Resource Utilization in Pediatric Patients Supported With Ventricular Assist Devices in the United States: A Multicenter Study From the Pediatric Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support and the Pediatric Health Information System.

BACKGROUND: Few data exist on resource utilization with pediatric ventricular assist devices (VADs). We tested the hypothesis that device type and adverse events are associated with increased resource utilization in pediatric patients supported with VADs.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The Pediatric Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support, a national registry of VADs in patients <19 years old, and the Pediatric Health Information System, an administrative database, were merged. Univariate analysis was performed assessing the association of all factors with the total cost and length of stay first. Significant variables ( P <0.05) were subjected to multivariable analysis. The study included 142 patients from 19 centers with VAD implants from October 2012 to June 2016. The median age was 9 years (interquartile range [IQR] 2-15), 84 (59%) supported with a continuous-flow VAD. Overall median hospital costs were $750 000 (IQR $539 000 to $1 100 000) with a median hospital length of stay of 81 days (IQR 54-128). On multivariable analysis, device type and postoperative complications were not associated with resource utilization. Factors associated with increased costs included patient age, lower-volume VAD center, being intubated, being on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, number of complex chronic medical conditions, and length of stay. Among continuous-flow VAD patients, discharge to home before transplant versus remaining hospitalized was associated with lower hospital costs (median $600 000 [IQR $400 000 to $820 000] versus median $680 000 [IQR $500 000 to $970 000], P =0.03).

CONCLUSION: VADs in pediatric patients are associated with high resource utilization. Increased resource utilization was associated with lower-volume VAD centers, disease severity at VAD implantation, and the presence of complex chronic medical conditions. Further study is needed to develop cost-effective strategies in this complex population.