A meta-analysis of weekend admission and surgery for aortic rupture and dissection

We performed a meta-analysis to determine whether weekend admission and surgery for ruptured abdominal/thoracic aortic aneurysm (RAAA/RTAA) and acute aortic dissection (AAD) is associated with increased mortality. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched from January 1946 to December 2016 using PubMed and OVID. Eligible studies were prospective or retrospective, comparative or cohort studies enrolling patients admitting or undergoing surgery for RAAA/RTAA/AAD and reporting mortality after weekend (including holiday) versus weekday admission/surgery. Our search identified 11 studies including a total of 166,195 patients. A pooled analysis of 13 adjusted odds ratios (ORs), one adjusted hazard ratio, and one unadjusted OR from all 11 studies demonstrated a statistically significant 32% increase in mortality with weekend admission/surgery (OR, 1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.20 to 1.45; p < 0.00001). Despite possible publication bias disadvantageous to weekend admission/surgery based on funnel plot asymmetry, adjustment for the asymmetry using the trim-and-fill method did not alter the significant association of weekend admission/surgery with increased mortality (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.34; p = 0.0006). In conclusion, weekend admission/surgery for ruptured abdominal/thoracic aortic aneurysm and acute aortic dissection (AAD) may be associated with increased mortality.