Outcomes and problems in pediatric pulmonary rehabilitation.

Abstract

To provide baseline information on the state of pediatric pulmonary rehabilitation, including data regarding diagnosis, age, gender, race, gestational age, disposition, medications, complications, procedures, consultations, pulmonary status, and outcomes. Retrospective review. Pediatric pulmonary rehabilitation unit of a pediatric rehabilitation hospital that is free-standing, but that receives most of its referrals from a tertiary care pediatric hospital. All patients (70 subjects) who had completed a course of inpatient rehabilitation over the 5-yr life of the hospital. Descriptive data were collected in regard to the objectives. In addition, outcome measures were developed for this study. They include measurements of developmental equivalence at admission and discharge and the changes in these scores, both actual and expected. Descriptive characteristics are listed in the text. Forty-six patients had bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The success rate of weaning those with BPD who were admitted with a goal of ventilator weaning was 81% (24% for those without BPD). On admission, 36 of those with BPD required three pulmonary aids (O2, continuous positive airway pressure, ventilator, and tracheostomy); at discharge, 28 required three aids. Of those without BPD, 16 required three aids at admission and 14 did so at discharge. Basic descriptive data are provided. The characteristics are similar to those in previous studies, although with a larger sample size and more detail. The outcome measures described cannot be compared with a criterion standard, but do offer a starting point in this underdeveloped field and will assist in future research directions.