Delay in operation for Hirschsprung Disease is associated with decreased length of stay: a 5-Year NSQIP-Peds analysis.

OBJECTIVE

The optimal timing of a pull-through procedure for Hirschsprung Disease is unknown. We, therefore, compared outcomes of pull-throughs performed in the first 30 days of age to 31-120 days.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective review of 282 patients in the NSQIP-Peds database from 2012-2016 of infants ≤120-days old and >36-weeks gestational age with Hirschsprung Disease who underwent primary pull-through. Primary outcome was postoperative and total length of stay (LOS). Operative morbidity and readmissions were also compared.

RESULTS

Postoperative LOS in <31-day group was 8.3 days (SD- 8.3) vs. 4.3 days (SD- 5.5) in 31-120-day group (p < 0.001). This finding was maintained on multivariate linear regression. Complication and readmission rates did not differ between groups (readmission: 15.6 vs 13% p = 0.51; complication: 5.5 vs 10% p = 0.16).

CONCLUSION

For appropriately selected patients with Hirschsprung Disease, delaying pull-through until the second month of life is associated with lower total and postoperative stays without increased readmissions or complications.