Examining readmissions following outpatient microlaryngeal surgery

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Outcomes
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Microlaryngeal surgery is a common procedure for various laryngeal conditions.
• Understanding readmission rates and associated risk factors is crucial for enhancing patient care and surgical quality.
• Existing literature provides limited data on readmissions specifically following microlaryngeal surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence of readmissions after outpatient microlaryngeal surgery.
• To identify specific surgical and patient-related factors associated with increased readmission rates.
• To hypothesize that airway surgical procedures would demonstrate higher readmission rates.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of outpatient microlaryngeal surgeries performed between May 1, 2018, and November 27, 2022.
• Analysis of 480 procedures to identify readmissions within a 30-day postoperative period.
• Comparison of patient demographics, comorbidities, surgical details, and operative times to identify risk factors.

Main Results:

• A total of 19 out of 480 procedures (4.0%) resulted in readmission, with 9 (1.9%) for glottic stenosis management.
• Airway surgical procedures were significantly associated with readmission (p = .002), increasing odds by 5.99.
• Current/former smoking status (odds ratio [OR] = 4.50) and each additional minute of operative time (OR = 1.03) also significantly increased readmission odds.

Conclusions:

• Readmissions following microlaryngeal surgery, though infrequent, are an important consideration.
• Identifying risk factors such as airway involvement, smoking, and operative duration is key to improving surgical outcomes.
• This study highlights the need for targeted interventions to mitigate readmission risks in microlaryngeal surgery.