Pediatric noncardiac surgical patients with a neurologic impairment have a greater risk of postoperative pneumonia and longer length of stay. The authors are from Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Patient selection: inpatient noncardiac surgery, age < 18 years
Outcome: postoperative pneumonia
Risk of postoperative pneumonia:
(1) cerebral palsy (OR 3.9)
(2) seizure disorder (OR 2.9)
(3) neuromuscular disorder (OR 2.6)
(4) any preoperative neurologic abnormality (OR 1.9)
Patients with postoperative pneumonia had a 2-fold increase in hospital length of stay.
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