Lateral cervical abscesses: NSQIP-P perspective on length of stay, readmission, and reoperation

Identify risk factors and determine perioperative sequelae of children undergoing lateral cervical abscess incision and drainage. Pediatric patients who underwent lateral cervical abscess incision and drainage aged 1–18 years were retrospectively queried via ACS-NSQIP-P (2012–2016) utilizing CPT code 21501. Analyzed outcomes include age, time to surgery, operative time, total length of stay, readmission, and reoperation. A total of 1917 children were identified, with a mean age at time of surgery of 4.05 years (95% CI 3.86–4.25). The mean number of days from hospital admission to operative intervention was 1.24 days (95% CI 1.16–1.31), with a mean total length of stay of 3.64 days (95% CI 3.46–3.82). The mean number of days from hospital admission to surgery was significantly lengthened in younger children (P = .0001) and pediatric patients of non-Caucasian origin (P < 0.001). Children with positive septic parameters not only had a prolonged time to surgery but also a significantly prolonged total length of stay (P