Early and Unplanned Readmission of Patients After Thoracic Surgery Operations

Background Thoracic surgery patients face unique postoperative challenges, particularly those undergoing lung resections. This study aimed to identify common complications and their management within the 30-day postoperative period, as well as investigate the relationship between early postoperative complications and unplanned outpatient follow-ups. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 947 patients who underwent thoracic surgery between January 2020 and December 2023. Of these, 168 patients who had unscheduled follow-ups were included in the final analysis. Results The most common surgical procedure was pulmonary resection (68.5%), with prolonged air leaks (19.6%) being the most frequent postoperative complication. Unplanned outpatient visits were primarily due to dyspnea (38.1%) and surgical site complications (33.9%). While the rate of readmission did not significantly differ between complication-free and complicated patients (p=0.070), patients with complications were 2.117 times more likely to be readmitted (p=0.044). Surgical technique impacted postoperative outcomes, with minimally invasive surgery associated with fewer complications and shorter hospital stays compared to open thoracotomy. Conclusion Our findings emphasize the need for tailored postoperative care and diligent follow-up, especially for patients at higher risk of readmission due to complications such as pneumothorax, empyema, and prolonged air leaks.