AUTHOR=Schroepf Sebastian , Mayle Paulina M. , Kurz Matthias , Wermelt Julius Z. , Hubertus Jochen 

TITLE=Prematurity is a critical risk factor for respiratory failure after early inguinal hernia repair under general anesthesia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.843900

DOI=10.3389/fped.2022.843900

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>The purpose of this study was to determine the earliest timing of inguinal hernia repair under general anesthesia with minimized risk for respiratory complications during postoperative course.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>We performed a monocentric analysis of patient records of premature and full-term infants undergoing inguinal hernia repair between 2009 and 2016. In addition to demographic and medical parameters, preexisting conditions and the perioperative course were recorded.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The study included 499 infants (preterm <italic>n</italic> = 285; full term <italic>n</italic> = 214). The number of subsequently ventilated patients was particularly high among preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, up to 45.3% (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Less than 10% of subsequent ventilation occurred in preterm infants after 45 weeks of postmenstrual age at the time of surgery or in patients with a body weight of more than 4,100 g. Preterm infants with a bronchopulmonary dysplasia had an increased risk of apneas (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). Only 10% of the preterm babies with postoperative apneas weighed more than 3,600 g at the time of surgery or were older than 44 weeks of postmenstrual age.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Our data indicate that after the 45th week of postmenstrual age and a weight above 4,100 g, the risk for respiratory failure after general anesthesia seems to be significantly decreased in preterm infants.</p></sec>