Risk factors for readmission after ureteroscopy for stone disease: Modern single centre experience

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Nephrology
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Ureteroscopy is a common procedure for treating kidney and ureteral stones.
• Postoperative readmission after ureteroscopy can strain healthcare resources.
• Identifying risk factors for readmission is crucial for improving patient care and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify patient and surgical factors associated with 30-day readmission following ureteroscopy.
• To determine predictors of postoperative emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions after ureteroscopy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 600 patients (300 women, 300 men) who underwent ureteroscopy for renal and ureteral stones.
• Data collected included patient demographics, comorbidities, preoperative ED visits, and surgical factors.
• Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for 30-day readmission.

Main Results:

• Overall, 6.7% of patients visited the ED and 2.7% were readmitted within 30 days postoperatively.
• Older age (OR 1.06, p=0.01) and a history of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) (OR 7.40, p=0.006) were significantly associated with increased risk of postoperative admission.
• No other patient characteristics or surgical factors were found to be associated with ED visits or readmissions.

Conclusions:

• Older patients and those with a history of recurrent UTIs face a higher risk of readmission after ureteroscopy.
• These findings highlight the importance of targeted preoperative interventions for high-risk patients to prevent readmissions.
• Proactive management of older patients and those with recurrent UTIs may help reduce the burden of postoperative hospital admissions.