Characteristics of Hospitalizations for the Glenn Procedure in Those With Isomerism Compared to Those Without

Isomerism, also known as heterotaxy, is a unique clinical entity in which there are mirror imaged findings in the thoracic. In the abdomen, the arrangement of organs can be random. The anatomic findings also have functional consequences. Isomerism has been known to increase morbidity and mortality in those with functionally univentricular hearts. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of isomerism on the Glenn hospitalization. Data from the 1997 to 2012 Kids’ Inpatient Database were utilized for this cross-sectional study. Admissions during which a Glenn procedure was done were identified. Next, these admissions were separated into those with and without isomerism. Admission characteristics were then compared in a univariate fashion as well as by regression analysis. Length of hospitalization, cost of hospitalization, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and inpatient mortality were the outcomes of interest. A total of 4959 admissions with a Glenn procedure were identified. Of these, 450 were associated with isomerism. The median age at which the Glenn procedure was done was 10 and 13 months in those without and with isomerism, respectively. Neither univariate nor regression analysis demonstrated any significant difference in length of hospitalization, cost of hospitalization, need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and inpatient mortality between those with and without isomerism. Isomerism does not impact the characteristics of the Glenn hospitalization. Those with isomerism did tend to be older when they underwent the Glenn procedure.