Determining the Association Between Unplanned Reoperation and Readmission in Selected General Surgery Operations

Unplanned reoperations and unplanned readmissions can increase morbidity and mortality. Few studies however, have explored the association of reoperation and readmission among general surgery patients. Our aim was to examine this relationship in selected abdominal operations.

Data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) Participant Use Data Files from 2014 to 2018 were utilized. Six groups of operations, defined by ACS NSQIP procedure codes for ventral hernia repair, colectomy, appendectomy, proctectomy, small bowel resection, and gastrectomy, were assessed. Patients discharged ≤ 14 days after operation were included in the study. This time period was selected to reduce ACS NSQIP 30 day post-surgery follow-up bias. Unplanned reoperations were defined as those occurring during the index hospitalization. The primary outcome was unplanned readmission that occurred ≤ 14 days from the date of discharge. Logistic regression models were used to examine variables associated with unplanned readmission for each procedure group.

A total of 787,118 patients were included: ventral hernia repair 35.2%, colectomy 30.6%, appendectomy 26.5%, proctectomy 3.7%, small bowel resection 3.2%, and gastrectomy 0.8%. Unplanned reoperation was independently associated with unplanned readmission for ventral hernia repair (OR 2.84, 95% CI 2.28-3.54, P < 0.001), colectomy (OR 1.58, CI 1.42- 1.76, P < 0.001), appendectomy (OR 2.91, CI 2.21-3.84, P < 0.001), and proctectomy (OR 1.41, CI 1.10-1.81, P = 0.006). Other clinically relevant covariates associated with readmission were partially dependent functional status before colectomy (OR 1.34, CI 1.23-1.46, P < 0.001), ventral hernia repair (OR 1.79, CI 1.54-2.09, P < 0.001), and small bowel resection (OR 1.44, CI 1.18-1.77, P < 0.001; and ASA 4/5 classification for colectomy (OR 2.71, CI 2.36-3.11, P < 0.001), proctectomy (OR 2.10, CI 1.48-2.97, P < 0.001), ventral hernia repair (OR 8.19, CI 6.78-9.88, P < 0.001), appendectomy (OR 2.80, CI 2.35-3.34, P < 0.001), and small bowel resection (OR 3.42, CI 2.20-5.32, P < 0.001). ASA 2, ASA 3 classification, age, and sex were also associated with unplanned readmission for most procedures.

Unplanned reoperations are associated with an increase in unplanned readmission after selected abdominal operations included in this study. This factor should be considered in discharge and follow-up planning to help reduce unplanned readmissions.