Short hospital stay following neck dissection

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Oncology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Neck dissection is a common surgical procedure for head and neck cancers.
• Hospital length of stay after neck dissection can significantly impact healthcare costs.
• Optimizing postoperative care pathways may allow for shorter hospitalizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients undergoing neck dissection with a short hospital stay (<24 hours).
• To determine the incidence and types of complications in patients discharged within 24 hours post-neck dissection.
• To assess the safety and appropriateness of short-stay protocols following neck dissection.

Main Methods:

• A case series design was employed at a university-based academic medical center.
• Data were collected from a prospectively maintained surgical database (July 2004-June 2008).
• Included patients underwent neck dissection and were discharged within 24 hours; medical records were reviewed for 30-day readmissions due to complications.

Main Results:

• Of 122 neck dissections, 71 (58%) were short-stay (<24 hours) in 69 patients (mean age 59).
• Short-stay procedures included neck dissection alone (31%), concurrent oral cavity/oropharyngeal resections (21), and parotidectomy (13).
• Only 2 (3%) short-stay patients required readmission for surgical complications within 30 days.

Conclusions:

• Short hospital stays (<24 hours) following neck dissection are safe and appropriate for carefully selected patients.
• This approach offers potential for significant cost savings in healthcare.
• Further investigation into short-stay protocols for neck dissection patients is recommended.