Children who travel further for common surgery have more complications and longer hospital stays

AI Summary

A study found that children who traveled more than 60 miles for a common inpatient surgery had higher odds of complications, longer hospital stays, and greater hospital charges. The findings highlight how distance to care may affect pediatric surgical outcomes.

Nearly one in eight children undergoing a common inpatient surgical procedure lived more than 60 miles (97 kilometers) from the hospital where they received care. These children had higher odds of complications, longer hospital stays and higher hospital charges than children who lived closer, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS).