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The burden of excess length of stay in trauma patients
Prakash J Mathew1, Faisal Jehan1, Narong Kulvatunyou1
1Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Emergency Surgery, and Burns, Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Background:
Disposition of trauma patients frequently results in excessive hospital-stay. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of developing complications due to excessive stay in the hospital.
Methods:
Over a period of 4 years (2012-2015) we analyzed all trauma patients with hospital length-of-stay (h-LOS) >30 days. Outcome measures were complications after termination of medical care.
Results:
416 patients were identified having h-LOS>30 days of which 61.0% (254) had an excess hospital stay and were included. The most common causes of excess hospital stay were placement in SNiF followed by placement in Inpatient-Rehabilitation. Excessive hospital-stay was independently associated with the development of complications (p = 0.004). Each excess day in the hospital after completion of medical care was associated with 5% higher odds of complications (OR [95%CI]: 1.05[1.02-1.09]) independent of presenting condition of the patient.
Conclusion:
Each extra day spent in the hospital after completion of medical care was associated with higher odds of developing complications.
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