Short-Term Risk Factor Profile of Pediatric Choanal Atresia Repair Using ACS-NSQIP National Database

The goal of this study is to describe the 30-day postoperative sequelae of pediatric choanal atresia repair and identify predictive factors for adverse events.

The American College of Surgeons' National Surgery Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (NSQIP-P) database was searched between January 2012 and December 2015 to identify pediatric patients status post choanal atresia repair. Postoperative outcomes included surgical site complications, readmissions, and total length of stay.

A total of 178 children underwent choanal atresia repair. The overall complication rate was 6.2%, while the 30-day readmission rate was 15%. Patients with CHARGE had a longer mean duration of hospitalization (26.91 days vs 8.05 days, P = .013). Additionally, patients ≤10 days of age had longer duration of hospitalization (17.84 days vs 9.24 days, P ≤ .001) and higher readmission rates (33.30% vs 10.1%, P = .001). Among the nonsyndromic cohort, ventilator dependence was a predictor of postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR] = 16.08, P < .001), higher readmission rates (OR = 5.46, P = .002), and a longer hospital stay (OR = 18.69, P < .001).

Analysis of the 2012-2015 NSQIP-P data set reveals that patients with a diagnosis of CHARGE and those ≤10 days of age have a longer duration of hospitalization. Increased risk of postoperative complications and longer duration of hospitalization were both influenced by chronic steroid use and ventilator dependence.