Preoperative Characteristics and Outcomes of Neonates Undergoing Surgical Procedures in the NICU

This single-center retrospective observational cohort study includes neonates who underwent surgical procedures during hospitalization in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Demographic and clinical characteristics, including gestational age, birth weight, sex, age and weight at the time of surgery, were obtained from medical records. Preoperative clinical status was assessed using variables including invasive mechanical ventilation, sepsis, and inotropic support.

Postoperative respiratory course was evaluated according to the requirement and duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and non-invasive ventilation. Prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation was defined as an IMV duration of more than 7 days. Postoperative clinical outcomes, including inotropic support, sepsis, nutritional support, length of hospital stay, need for additional surgical procedures, and mortality, were also evaluated.

Laboratory parameters obtained before and after surgery were compared to assess perioperative changes in hematological, renal, and hepatic parameters. These included complete blood count parameters and routinely measured biochemical markers of renal and liver function.

The primary objective was to evaluate the association between preoperative clinical characteristics and prolonged postoperative invasive mechanical ventilation. Secondary objectives included evaluating perioperative changes in laboratory parameters and examining the relationship between postoperative respiratory support patterns and clinical outcomes.

As this was a retrospective study based exclusively on existing medical records, no study-related intervention or modification of clinical management was performed.

Inclusion criteria

• Neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the study period.
• Neonates who underwent at least one surgical procedure during NICU hospitalization.
• Availability of preoperative clinical data, including respiratory support status.
• Availability of postoperative respiratory support and clinical outcome data.
• Availability of sufficient medical records for retrospective evaluation.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who did not undergo a surgical procedure during NICU hospitalization.
• Patients with insufficient or incomplete medical records to evaluate preoperative clinical characteristics or postoperative respiratory outcomes.
• Patients who underwent procedures outside the predefined study period.
• Patients transferred to another center before postoperative outcomes could be adequately assessed.