Children dependent on respiratory support: A 10-year review from one pediatric postacute care hospital.

Abstract

Pediatric postacute care hospitals (PACH) provide long-term care for children with medical complexity including children dependent on respiratory support. Descriptions of PACH respiratory care populations and outcomes, however, remain under-reported. Our aim was to describe demographics, respiratory outcome, and longitudinal trend of children with respiratory support admitted to a single PACH in the United States. Using electronic records from 2009 to 2018, data were examined for all children dependent on respiratory support. Children were identified for inclusion using respiratory level of care classifications (type of support) as outlined in hospital policy. Outcome was defined as change in level from first admission to final discharge. Number of admissions by level and year during the study timeframe were analyzed. There were 1423 admissions for 767 children requiring respiratory support during the study timeframe. Children with higher respiratory classification level (eg, mechanical ventilation) at initial admission had more admissions to PACH (P < .001) and longer length of stays (P < .001). From first admission to final discharge, there was a significant change (reduction) in respiratory level (z = -4.588, P < .001). An increase in the overall number of admissions for children with respiratory support during the study timeframe was noted, with the largest increase for children requiring the highest level of support. There has been a consistent increase in the number of children requiring respiratory support at admission to PACH. Reduction in respiratory support with postacute care occurs but children admitted with a higher level of support stay longer and experience multiple admissions.