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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 May 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Hosp Med. 2011 Mar 3;6(5):256–263. doi: 10.1002/jhm.872

Table 3.

Multivariable analysis of the association between initial pleural fluid drainage procedure and outcomes for children with complicated pneumonia.

Adjusted OR (95% CI)a P-value

Additional Pleural Drainage Procedure
 Chest tube without fibrinolysis 1.82 (1.10–3.00) 0.019
 Chest tube with fibrinolysis 2.31 (1.44–3.72) <0.001
 Thoracotomy 2.59 (1.62–4.14) <0.001
 VATS Reference
Readmission within 14 days
 Chest tube without fibrinolysis 0.61 (0.36–1.05) 0.077
 Chest tube with fibrinolysis 0.45 (0.23–0.86) 0.015
 Thoracotomy 0.85 (0.52–1.39) 0.521
 VATS Reference
Adjusted Mean (95% CI)a P-value

Total LOS (days)
 Chest tube without fibrinolysis 8.0 (7.8–8.2) 0.339
 Chest tube with fibrinolysis 8.1 (7.9–8.3) 0.812
 Thoracotomy 8.1 (7.9–8.3) 0.632
 VATS 8.1 (7.9–8.3) Ref
Post-Initial Procedure LOS (days)
 Chest tube without fibrinolysis 7.3 (7.0–7.5) 0.512
 Chest tube with fibrinolysis 7.5 (7.2–7.8) 0.239
 Thoracotomy 7.3 (7.0–7.6) 0.841
 VATS 7.3 (7.1–7.6) Reference
Total Cost, Index Hospitalization ($)
 Chest tube without fibrinolysis 22928 (22000–23895 0.012
 Chest tube with fibrinolysis 23621 (22631–24655) 0.657
 Thoracotomy 23386 (22419–24395 0.262
 VATS 23820 (22808–24878) Reference
Total Cost, Episode of Illness ($)
 Chest tube without fibrinolysis 23218 (22278–24199) 0.004
 Chest tube with fibrinolysis 23749 (22752–24790) 0.253
 Thoracotomy 23673 (22693–24696) 0.131
 VATS 24280 (23244–25362) Reference
a

All models adjusted for age, sex, race, month of admission, primary payer, radiologic imaging performed, empiric antibiotic therapy, concurrent diagnosis of influenza or hemolytic uremic syndrome, presence of underlying chronic comorbid conditions, timing of primary pleural fluid drainage procedure, and receipt of corticosteroids and requirement for mechanical ventilation, blood product transfusions, vasoactive infusions, intensive care unit hospitalization, extracorporeal membranous oxygenation, and arterial blood gas measurements within the first two days of hospitalization and clustered on hospital.

Abbreviations: OR, odds ratio; VATS, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery