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Analysis of Otolaryngologic Readmissions at a High-Volume Quaternary Referral Center
Neal R Godse1, Carl H Snyderman1
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Objectives:
To identify common reasons for readmission following otolaryngologic surgery at a high-volume center and identify possible risk factors for readmission.
Methods:
Retrospective chart review of readmissions identified by hospital-based electronic medical record reporting mechanism.
Results:
From January 2019 to September 2020, there were 87 readmissions following 808 index surgeries. The most common reason for readmission was for planned surgery (23%), followed by post-operative neck infection, bleeding, or pneumonia. Patients with unplanned readmissions had significantly longer index admission duration than patients who were not readmitted (median 7 days vs. median 5 days, resp.; p = 0.0056). Analysis of cases of unplanned readmission for neck infection and bleeding identified the oral cavity/pharynx as the most common site of initial surgery and that a majority of patients had a history of radiation therapy.
Conclusion:
Neck infection, bleeding, and pneumonia were the most common reasons for unplanned readmission following otolaryngologic surgery, and a large portion of patients required additional procedures during readmission. Unplanned readmissions for bleeding were significantly more costly than readmissions for neck infections. Long-index hospitalizations, index surgery involving the oral cavity and pharynx, and a history of radiation therapy may be useful clinical features that could stratify the risk of readmission.
Level Of Evidence:
4, retrospective chart review Laryngoscope, 133:2546-2552, 2023.
