Tasnim Najaf

Impact of Hospital Volume on In-Hospital Mortality of Infants Undergoing Repair of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Objectives:Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Summary of Background Data:Previous studies have suggested that hospital volume is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality. We sought to validate this effect using a large national database incorporating 37 free-standing childrens hospitals in the United States. Methods:Infants who underwent repair of CDH from 2000 to 2008 at Pediatric Health Information Systems-member hospitals were evaluated. Hospitals were categorized by tertiles into low-volume (≤6 cases/yr), medium-volume (6–10 cases/yr), and high-volume (>10 cases/yr). Using generalized linear mixed models with random effects, we computed the risk-adjusted odds ratio of mortality by yearly hospital volume of CDH repair, after adjustment for salient patient and hospital characteristics. Results:There were 2203 infants who underwent repair with an overall survival of 82%. Average yearly hospital volume of CDH repair varied from 1.4 to 17.5 cases per year. Smaller birthweight (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.56 per kg, P < 0.001), year of birth (P < 0.001), chromosomal abnormalities (aOR: 3.83, P < 0.01), longer time to repair (aOR: 1.12 per week, P < 0.05), the thoracic approach for repair (P < 0.02), and requirement for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (aOR: 10.31, P < 0.0001), or inhaled nitric oxide (aOR: 5.25, P < 0.0001) were each independently associated with mortality. Compared with low-volume hospitals, medium-volume (aOR: 0.56, P < 0.05) and high-volume (aOR: 0.44, P < 0.01) hospitals had a significantly lower mortality. The rate of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use at each facility was not independently associated with mortality. Conclusions:This large study suggests that hospitals which perform high volumes of CDH repair achieve lower in-hospital mortality. These data support the paradigm of regionalized centers of excellence for the management of infants with this morbid condition.

Predictors of the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and survival in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a center's 10‐year experience

To determine the prenatal factors associated with the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and neonatal survival in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Prevalence of upper urinary tract anomalies in hospitalized premature infants with urinary tract infection

Objective:The 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines address imaging after initial febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants >2 months of age. We sought to determine the frequency of upper urinary tract anomalies (hydronephrosis and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)) in hospitalized premature infants with UTI.Study design:We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions at a tertiary care children’s hospital between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2010. We queried the records for UTI, renal ultrasound (US) and voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG).Result:We identified 3518 unique admissions. UTI occurred in 118 infants (3%). Sixty-nine (60%) had a normal US. Renal dilation was predominantly renal pelvic dilation (12%) and isolated caliectasis (22%). VUR was identified in 15 (14%) infants evaluated with a VCUG. VUR was identified in nine (12%) infants without and in seven (16%) with an abnormality on US. Reflux was identified in 7% of male and 38% of female infants with a UTI.Conclusion:Anatomic abnormalities of the upper urinary tract are uncommon in premature infants with a UTI that occurs during neonatal hospitalization. In concordance with the AAP guidelines, a VCUG may not be required in all NICU infants under age 2 months after a single UTI.

A definition of gentle ventilation in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a survey of neonatologists and pediatric surgeons.

Abstract Ventilation practices have changed significantly since the initial reports in the mid 1980 of successful use of permissive hypercapnia and spontaneous ventilation [often called gentle ventilation (GV)] in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). However, there has been little standardization of these practices or of the physiologic limits that define GV. We sought to ascertain among Diaphragmatic Hernia Research and Exploration; Advancing Molecular Science (DHREAMS) centers’ GV practices in the neonatal management of CDH. Pediatric surgeons and neonatologists from DHREAMS centers completed an online survey on GV practices in infants with CDH. The survey gathered data on how individuals defined GV including ventilator settings, blood gas parameters and other factors of respiratory management. A total of 87 respondents, from 12 DHREAMS centers completed the survey for an individual response rate of 53% and a 92% center response rate. Approximately 99% of the respondents defined GV as accepting higher carbon dioxide (PCO2) and 60% of the respondents also defined GV as accepting a lower pH. There was less consensus about the use of sedation and neuromuscular blocking agents in GV, both within and across the centers. Acceptable pH and PCO2 levels are broader than the goal ranges. Despite a lack of formal standardization, the results suggest that GV practice is consistently defined as the use of permissive hypercapnia with mild respiratory acidosis and less consistently with the use of sedation and neuromuscular blocking agents. GV is the reported practice of surveyed neonatologists and pediatric surgeons in the respiratory management of infants with CDH.