Risk factors for prolonged length of stay after the stage 2 procedure in the single-ventricle reconstruction trial

Background The single-ventricle reconstruction trial randomized patients with single right ventricle lesions to a modified Blalock-Taussig or right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery shunt at the Norwood. This analysis describes outcomes at the stage 2 procedure and factors associated with a longer hospital length of stay (LOS). Methods We examined the association of shunt type with stage 2 hospital outcomes. Cox regression and bootstrapping were used to evaluate risk factors for longer LOS. We also examined characteristics associated with in-hospital death. Results There were 393 subjects in the analytic cohort. Median stage 2 procedure hospital LOS (8 days; interquartile range [IQR], 6-14 days), hospital mortality (4.3%), transplantation (0.8%), median ventilator time (2 days; IQR, 1-3 days), median intensive care unit LOS (4 days; IQR, 3-7 days), number of additional cardiac procedures or complications, and serious adverse events did not differ by shunt type. Longer LOS was associated (R² = 0.26) with center, longer post-Norwood LOS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.93 per log day; P <.001), nonelective timing of the stage 2 procedure (HR, 1.78; P <.001), and pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis (HR, 1.56; P <.001). By univariate analysis, nonelective stage 2 (65% vs 32%; P =.009), moderate or greater atrioventricular valve (AVV) regurgitation (75% vs 24%; P <.001), and AVV repair (53% vs 9%; P <.001) were among the risk factors associated with in-hospital death. Conclusions Norwood LOS, PA stenoses, and nonelective stage 2 procedure, but not shunt type, are independently associated with longer LOS. Nonelective stage 2 procedure, moderate or greater AVV regurgitation, and need for AVV repair are among the risk factors for death.