Purpose: To evaluate the effect of chronic lung disease (CLD) on length of stay (LOS) and days of ventilator support (Vent days) in neonates discharged home from our neonatal intensive care unit. Setting: All neonates with a gestational age <34wks admitted to Crawford Long neonatal intensive (level III) care unit between July 1992 and August 1997. Methods: Data for all neonates admitted to our unit are prospectively entered into a computerized database. From this database, we compared the differences in average LOS and Vent days in neonates who developed CLD to those who did not. We excluded patients who were back transported to other institutions before discharge (n=79, 13% of admissions). CLD was defined as need for oxygen or ventilator support beyond 36 weeks post conception age. We used a Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA to compare differences in LOS and Vent days. Results: Of 534 neonates admitted, 489 (92%) survived and were discharged home. Fifty-seven (13%) of the 489 had CLD. Data on LOS and Vent days were missing on 15 patients, 2 with CLD and 13 without CLD. The average LOS and Vent days were significantly longer for neonates with CLD (see table, data listed as mean (std); *p<0.03 for all comparisons). Conclusions: The development of chronic lung disease in premature neonates has a marked effect on LOS and Vent days. These data emphasize the health care consequences of CLD in premature neonates.

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