Racial Differences in 30-Day Reintubation After Head and Neck Surgery

Area of Science:

• Surgical Outcomes
• Health Disparities
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Head and neck surgery carries risks, including unplanned reintubation.
• Understanding demographic factors influencing post-operative outcomes is crucial for equitable care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between race, ethnicity, and 30-day unplanned reintubation rates.
• To identify potential racial and ethnic disparities in head and neck surgery outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 108,442 head and neck surgery patients (2015-2020).
• Data sourced from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.
• Multivariable logistic regression used to assess the impact of race and ethnicity on reintubation, adjusting for covariates.

Main Results:

• The overall 30-day reintubation rate was 0.33%.
• Non-Hispanic Black patients exhibited significantly higher odds of reintubation (OR=2.14, P<0.0001) compared to non-Hispanic White patients.
• No significant difference in reintubation rates was observed for Hispanic patients compared to non-Hispanic White patients (OR=1.08, P=0.747).

Conclusions:

• Non-Hispanic Black patients experience disproportionately higher rates of 30-day unplanned reintubation post-head and neck surgery.
• Hispanic ethnicity was not associated with increased reintubation risk.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the factors contributing to these observed racial disparities.