The Readmission Event after Vascular Surgery: Causes and Costs

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Healthcare Economics
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Vascular surgical interventions are associated with patient readmissions.
• Understanding readmission diagnoses and associated costs is essential for healthcare management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate readmission diagnoses following various vascular surgical procedures.
• To analyze the associated hospital costs and identify risk factors for readmission.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1,170 patients undergoing vascular procedures (CAS, CEA, EVAR, OAAA, SUPRA, INFRA).
• Data collected on demographics, pre/postoperative events, readmission diagnoses, and costs.
• Statistical analyses included chi-squared, Fisher exact, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.

Main Results:

• The 30-day readmission rate was 9.6% (112 patients).
• Wound complications were the most frequent readmission diagnosis (36.6%), particularly after infrainguinal and suprainguinal revascularization.
• Cardiac causes were predominant in EVAR readmissions. Preoperative COPD, renal insufficiency, and postoperative complications were significant predictors of readmission.
• Readmissions for wound complications cost a median of $29,723, while cardiac complications cost $39,784.

Conclusions:

• Vascular procedure readmissions significantly impact hospital costs and bed utilization.
• Wound complications remain a primary driver of readmissions, necessitating targeted prevention strategies.
• Characterizing costs and risk factors aids resource allocation for reducing preventable readmissions. Planned/unrelated readmissions require consideration in performance metrics.