The Journal of Pediatrics • June 2017
Lee JH, Smith PB, Quek MBH, Laughon MM, Clark RH, Hornik CP
This study analyzed an electronic medical record from 348 NICUs from 1997–2012 and evaluated the associations between infant demographics, diagnoses, and pre-tracheostomy cardio-pulmonary support with in-hospital mortality. It also determined the trends in use of infant tracheostomy over time. Tracheostomy is uncommonly performed in hospitalized infants, but the associated mortality is high. Risk factors for increased in-hospital mortality after tracheostomy include GA near term, SGA, and pulmonary diagnoses.