The Influence of Infectious Complications in Gastroschisis on Costs and Length of Stay

Objective  Outcomes for gastroschisis (GS) remain highly variable and avoiding infectious complications (ICs) may represent a significant improvement opportunity. Our objective was to provide estimates of the impact of IC on length of stay (LOS) and costs. Study Design  Using a national database, 1,378 patients with GS were identified. Patient and hospital characteristics were compared and LOS and costs evaluated for patients with and without IC. Results  Two-thirds of all GS patients had IC, and IC were common for simple and complex GS (65, 73%, respectively). After controlling for patient and hospital factors, LOS in patients with IC was significantly longer than in patients without IC (4.5-day increase, p  = 0.001). Specifically, sepsis was associated with increasing median LOS by 11 days ( p  ≤ 0.001), candida infection by 14 days ( p p  = 0.007). Although overall costs did not differ between patients with and without IC, costs were elevated based on specific IC. Sepsis increased median costs by $22,380 (95% confidence interval [CI]: $14,372–30,388; p  ≤ 0.001), wound infection by $32,351 (95% CI: $17,221–47,481; p  ≤ 0.001), catheter-related infection by $57,180 (95% CI: $12,834–101,527; p  = 0.011), and candida infections by $24,500 (95% CI: $8,832–40,167; p  = 0.002). Conclusion  IC among GS patients are common and contribute to increased LOS and costs. Quantifying clinical and financial ramifications of IC may help direct future quality improvement efforts.