Surgical Site Infection in Children with Neuromuscular Disorders after Laparoscopic Gastrostomy: A Propensity-Matched National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatrics Database Analysis

Background: Prior studies have demonstrated that children with neuromuscular scoliosis have a higher incidence of infection after spine surgery. The purpose of the study is to determine whether children with neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) have higher rate of superficial surgical site infection (SSI) or increased hospital length of stay (LOS) compared with children without NMDs following laparoscopic gastrostomy creation, a common pediatric general surgery operation.Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective propensity-matched analysis of laparoscopic gastrostomy creation in children from National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatrics database (NSQIP-P) 2018-2019. Patients were stratified based on NMD status. We performed multivariable logistic regression and ordered logistic regression to estimate the odds ratio of superficial SSI within 30 days of surgery and increased LOS.Results: We screened 252,367 patients from the NSQIP-P 2018-2019 dataset. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria and 1:1 propensity score-matching, there were 991 children with NMDs and 991 children without NMDs. Children with NMDs had higher prevalence of superficial SSI within 30 days of gastrostomy creation: 36 (3.63%) versus 18 (1.82%); p = 0.013. Children with NMDs had increased odds of having a superficial SSI within 30 days of laparoscopic gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement compared with children without NMD (odds ratio [OR], 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-3.58; p = 0.018). There was no difference in LOS based on NMD status.Conclusion: Children with NMDs have two-fold increased odds of superficial SSI after laparoscopic gastrostomy creation compared with children without NMDs. Children with NMDs should be the aim of targeted quality improvement initiatives to reduce infection risks.