RESUMO
BACKGROUND: PELD scores are used to reduce waitlist mortality, but they do not accurately predict likelihood of prolonged length-of-stay or higher costs associated with it. This study aims to create a pediatric length-of-stay (LOS) index to predict increased risk of prolonged stay following liver transplantation. METHODS: The scoring system generated predicts length-of-stay following pediatric liver transplantation. With univariate and multivariate analyses on data from 5669 pediatric liver transplant recipients, independent recipient/donor risk factors for prolonged stay (>30 days) were identified. Multiple imputations accounted for missing variables. RESULTS: The most significant factors were ICU admission (OR 2.92, CI 2.27-3.75), recipient bilirubin >32 (OR 2.35, CI 1.70-3.25), and hemodialysis 1 week before transplantation (OR 2.27, CI 1.57-3.27). The LOS index assigns weighted scoring points to factors to predict prolonged stay (C-statistic of .72). The index demonstrated discrimination across the population after dividing it into quartiles for prolonged stay. CONCLUSIONS: The pediatric LOS index, utilizing 13 donor/recipient factors, can assess the risk for pediatric liver transplantation prolonged stay. Important predictive factors are hemodialysis, ICU admission, recipient weight and bilirubin, and recipient life support status.