Resource utilization in primary repair of cleft palate.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To estimate the current incidence of cleft palate in the United States and to determine national variations in resource utilization for primary repair of cleft palate. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis of a national, pediatric database (2009 Kids Inpatient Database). METHODS Patients aged 3 and below admitted for cleft palate repair were selected, using ICD-9 codes for cleft palate and procedure code for primary (initial) repair of cleft palate. A number of demographic variables were analyzed, and hospital charges were considered as a measure of resource utilization. RESULTS Primary repair of cleft palate was performed on 1,943 patients. The estimated incidence was 0.11% with male to female ratio of 1.2:1. Regional incidence ranged from 0.09% (Northeast) to 0.12% (Midwest). The mean age at surgery was 13.4 months. The average length of stay was 1.9 days. The average total charge nationwide was $22,982, ranging from $17,972 (South) to $25,671 (Northeast). Average charge in a teaching institution was $4,925 higher than for nonteaching institutions. The strongest predictor of charge was length of stay, increasing charge by $7,663 for every additional hospital day (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS National variations exist in resource utilization for primary repair of cleft palate, with higher charges in Northeastern states and teaching hospitals. The strongest predictor of increased resource use was length of stay, which was significantly higher at teaching institutions.