Preoperative Variables Associated with Respiratory Complications After Pediatric Neuromuscular Spine Deformity Surgery

Summary A retrospective analysis of 111 pediatric neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS) patients treated with posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with instrumentation was performed. Overall, 17 patients (15.3%) developed a postoperative respiratory complication. The history of a previous pneumonia and the presence of a gastrostomy tube at the time of surgery were associated (p < 0.05) with postoperative respiratory complications. Hypothesis In pediatric NMS populations undergoing PSF with instrumentation, history of pneumonia or presence of a gastrostomy tube at time of surgery are associated with postoperative respiratory complications. Design Retrospective …