Severe adverse events in children with tracheostomy and home mechanical ventilation - Comparison of pediatric home care and a specialized pediatric nursing care facility.

Background: Advances in medical care and ventilator technologies increase the number of children with tracheostomy and home mechanical ventilation (HMV). Data on severe adverse events in home care and in specialized nursing care facilities are limited.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective analysis of incidence and type of severe adverse events in children with tracheostomy and HMV in home care compared to a specialized nursing care facility over a 7-year period.

Results: 163.9 patient-years in 70 children (home care: 110.7 patient-years, 24 patients; nursing care facility: 53.2 patient-years, 46 patients) were analyzed. In 34 (48.6%) patients tracheostomy was initiated at the age of <1 year. 35 severe adverse events were identified, incidence of severe adverse events per patient-year was 0.21 (median 0.0 (0.0-3.0)). We observed no difference in the rate of severe adverse events between home care and specialized nursing care facility (0.21 [y-1]; median 0.0 (0.0-3.0) versus 0.23 [y-1]; median 0.0 (0.0-1.6); p = 0.690), however, significantly more tracheostomy related incidents and infections occurred in the home care setting. Young age (<1 year) (Odds ratio 3.27; p = 0.045) and feeding difficulties (nasogastric tubes and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) (Odds ratio 9.08; p = 0.016) significantly increased the risk of severe adverse events. Furthermore, the rate of severe adverse events was significantly higher in patients with a higher nursing score.

Conclusion: Pediatric home mechanical ventilation via tracheostomy is rarely associated with emergencies or adverse events in home care as well as in a specialized nursing care facility setting.