Factors Influencing Readmission of Home Ventilator-Assisted Children

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze factors affecting readmission of children with home ventilator care. Methods: To collect patient data, a retrospective chart review was done of medical records of children admitted between June 1, 2007 and May 31, 2010 at one children�셲 hospital located in Seoul. During that period 30 children were discharged with a home ventilator.: Twenty-one of these children had a total of 63 readmissions during the study period, averaging 2.1 readmissions child with a mean duration of hospitalization of 7.4 days. Children with nasogastric tubes were more frequently readmitted(t=7.232, p=.012) and duration of hospitalization was significantly longer (t=4.761, p=.038). Children who had cardio-pulmonary comorbidity were more frequently readmitted and had longer hospitalization than children without comorbidity (t= 5.444, p=.027). When home ventilator assisted children were admitted via emergency room, they were hospitalized longer (t=14.686, p<.001). Cardio-pulmonary morbidity and readmission via ER explained 38.1% of variation for readmission. Feeding explained 15.0% of variation in length of hospitalization. Conclusion: The results suggest that health care providers give individualized education on home ventilator care to parents with children who are at risk for readmission due to cardio-pulmonary comorbidities, nasogastric tube, or readmission via ER.