Descriptive study of exclusion criteria reveals variability in pediatric ambulatory surgery centers, highlighting the need for standardized guidelines.
Key Points
General consistency was found in excluding children with congenital heart disease and pulmonary conditions, but specific criteria varied significantly across centers.
The study analyzed exclusion guidelines from the 30 largest pediatric hospitals across the continental United States, covering various geographic regions.
Considerable heterogeneity was observed in minimum age thresholds, obesity criteria, and recent respiratory infections among ambulatory surgery centers.
These findings call for the development of evidence-based guidelines to ensure safe and efficient care in pediatric ambulatory surgery settings.