Nationwide Outcomes After Thoracoscopic Versus Open Resection of Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformations in Newborns.

Elective resection of congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAM) has been debated for decades and varies significantly between individual surgeons. However, few studies have compared outcomes and costs associated with thoracoscopic and open thoracotomy approaches on a national level. This study sought to compare nationwide outcomes and resource utilization in infants undergoing elective lung resection for CPAM. The Nationwide Readmission Database was queried from 2010 to 2014 for newborns who underwent elective surgical resection of CPAM. Patients were stratified by operative approach (thoracoscopic versus open). Demographics, hospital characteristics, and outcomes were analyzed using standard statistical tests. A total of 1716 newborns with CPAM were identified. Elective readmission for pulmonary resection was performed in 12% ( = 198), with 63% of resections completed at a different hospital than the newborn stay. Most resections were thoracoscopic (75%), compared to only 25% via thoracotomy. Infants treated with thoracoscopic resection were more often male (78% versus 62% open,  = .040) and were older at the time of resection. Patients who had an open thoracotomy experienced a higher rate of serious complications (40% versus 10% thoracoscopic,  < .001), including postoperative hemorrhage, tension pneumothorax, and pulmonary collapse. Readmission costs were higher for infants treated via thoracotomy ( < .001). Thoracoscopic lung resection for CPAM is associated with lower cost and fewer postoperative complications than thoracotomy. Most resections are performed at different hospitals than the place of birth, which may affect long-term outcomes from single institutional studies. These findings may be used to address costs and improve future evaluations of elective CPAM resections.