Thirty-Day Readmission Rate Using an Outpatient Infusion Pathway after Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

The objective of this study was to determine whether implementing an outpatient infusion pathway (OIP) resulted in a decreased 30-day readmission rate after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). Data were retrospectively gathered on all patients who underwent LRYGB at our institution between April 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016, after instituting an OIP (postinfusion group). Thirty-day readmission rate, length of stay, and 30-day mortality rate were compared with patients who underwent LRYGB between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2014, before implementing the OIP (preinfusion group). Patients not able to take 40 ounces of fluid orally at discharge after surgery were enrolled in the OIP. One OIP session would include an antiemetic, 1 liter bolus of 0.9 per cent saline, and intravenous multivitamin, thiamine, and folic acid. A total of 174 patients were included for analysis. Seventy-nine patients were in the preinfusion group and 95 patients in the postinfusion group. Of the 95 patients in the postinfusion group, 18 patients (18.9%) met inclusion criteria for the OIP. There was a 45 per cent decrease in 30-day readmission rate after the institution of the OIP for patients who underwent LRYGB, however this was not statistically significant (11.39% vs 6.31%; OR 1.907; 95% confidence interval: 0.648-5.613, P = 0.235). There was no difference in postoperative length of hospital stay (1.65 vs 1.41 days, P = 0.114) or mortality (0.7% vs 0%, P = 0.454), in the pre- and postinfusion groups, respectively. Implementation of an OIP decreased 30-day readmission rate after LRYGB by 45 per cent; however, this was not statistically significant.