Prediction of Discharge Destination following Laryngectomy

To identify factors that may predict discharge to intermediate-care facilities following total laryngectomy and may promote earlier discharge planning and optimize resource utilization.

Retrospective review of large national data set.

Academic and nonacademic health care facilities in United States, contributing deidentified, risk-adjusted clinical data to the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP).

Retrospective evaluation of the NSQIP database (2011-2014) identified 487 patients who underwent total laryngectomy without free tissue transfer. Risk of discharge to intermediate-care facilities was evaluated. Role of preoperative and postoperative factors and their association with discharge disposition were assessed using multivariable regression analysis.

Compared to reference groups, advanced age (61-70 years: odds ratio [OR], 3.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-8.89; >70 years: OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 1.33-10.65), baseline functional dependence (OR, 5.61; 95% CI, 2.62-12.02), cardiac failure (OR, 3.80; 95% CI, 1.08-13.42), and steroid dependence (OR, 3.30; 95% CI, 1.36-8.0) independently predicted discharge to intermediate-care facilities.

Patients with advanced age, functional dependence, cardiac failure, and steroid dependence may benefit from preemptive counseling and discharge planning in anticipation of postlaryngectomy discharge to intermediate-care facilities.