Incidence and risk factors for 30-day readmission in patients undergoing nephrectomy procedures: a contemporary analysis of 5276 cases from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database

SAFE: Multi-institutional study of time to complications after robot-assisted partial nephrectomy, selection of a population eligible for outpatient management (UroCCR 90)

INTRODUCTION

The average hospital length of stay after robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is 3 days, with a current trend towards outpatient cases, although no population has been identified. The main objective of the study was to analyze the time to onset of post-operative complications, identify risk factors for significant early complications in order to define a population eligible for outpatient case.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The study included 3342 patients with clinically localized renal tumors who underwent RAPN surgery between 2010 and 2021. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of significant complications (SC) (Clavien Dindo>2 [CD]). A CS-free survival analysis was performed. A multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to predict the risk of early significant complications (ESC) after RAPN.

RESULTS

The rates of total complications and SC were 14.99% and 3.59% respectively. Median time to SC was significantly longer at 3 days [3.9-5.7] versus 2 days [2.4-3] for total complications (P=0.012). The majority of complications occurred within the first 72h, and the risk factors for early SC (<72h) (ESC) were clamping time (P=0.04) and ASA>2 score (P=0.007). Analysis of survival without ESC showed a significant impact of clamping time (P=0.043) on complication-free survival.

CONCLUSION

Using standard preoperative variables, we were able to determine that the only factor influencing the occurrence of postoperative ESC was ASA score >2 and thus define it as a primary eligibility criterion for an indication of outpatient RAPN subject to a clamp time of less than 20mins.

Patient Safety and Quality Improvement in Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background: The journey of minimally invasive (MI) urology is one of quality improvement (QI) and patient safety. New techniques have been progressively studied for adoption and growth. As more advanced methods of data collection and analysis are developed, a review of the patterns and history of these principles in the development of MI urology can inform future urologic QI and patient safety initiatives. Objective: To perform a scoping review identifying patterns of QI and patient safety in MI urology. Methods: PubMed and the American Urological Association (AUA) journal search page were screened on December 2022 for publications using the search parameters "quality improvement" and "minimally invasive." Articles were screened according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Results: The initial literature search identified 471 articles from PubMed and 57 from the AUA journal search page. After screening, 528 articles were relevant to the topic and reviewed. Four hundred eighty-two articles were duplicates or did not meet inclusion criteria. Forty-six are included in this review. Conclusion: Urology has developed a pattern of assessing MI surgery vs the open counterpart. This includes analyzing the newest approach to understand complications, examining the factors contributing to complications, and lastly designing projects to mitigate future risk. This information, as well as advanced methods of data collection, has identified areas of improvement for new QI projects. The stage is set for a promising future with the adoption of advanced QI in daily urologic practice to improve patient safety and minimize errors.

Readmissions after radical nephrectomy in a national cohort

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the factors and costs associated with 30-day readmissions for patients undergoing radical nephrectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used the 2014 Nationwide Readmission Database to identify adults who underwent radical nephrectomy for renal cancer, stratified by surgical approach. We determined patient factors associated with readmission rates, diagnoses, and costs using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among 19,523 individuals, the 30-day readmission rate was 7.7% (n = 1,506). On multivariate regression, odds of readmission were significantly increased with age ≥75 in those who underwent open nephrectomy (OR: 1.35; 95%CI: 1.03-1.78). Subjects with a Charlson comorbidity score ≥3 had significantly higher rates of readmission regardless of surgical approach (Open RN - OR: 1.85; 95%CI: 1.33-2.56; Lap RN - OR: 1.99; 95%CI 1.10-3.59; Robotic RN - OR: 2.18; 95%CI: 1.23-3.86). Common reasons for readmission were gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, urinary tract infections, and wound complications across all surgical approaches. The mean cost per readmission was as high as 126% ($20,357) of the mean index admission cost.

CONCLUSION

One in 13 adults undergoing radical nephrectomy is readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Associated readmission cost is up to 1.26 times the cost of index admission. Our findings may inform efforts aiming to reduce hospital readmissions and curtail healthcare costs.

Same-day discharge following minimally invasive partial and radical nephrectomy: a National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) analysis

PURPOSE

Minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (MIPN) and radical nephrectomy (MIRN) have successfully resulted in shorter length of stay (LOS) for patients. Using a national cohort, we compared 30-day outcomes of SDD (LOS = 0) versus standard-length discharge (SLD, LOS = 1-3) for MIRN and MIPN.

METHODS

All patients who underwent MIPN (CPT 50,543) or MIRN (CPT 50,545) in the ACS-NSQIP database from 2012 to 2019 were reviewed. SDD and SLD groups were matched 1:1 by age, sex, race, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and medical comorbidities. We compared baseline characteristics, 30-day Clavien-Dindo (CD) complications, reoperations, and readmissions between SDD and SLD groups. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to evaluate predictors of adverse outcomes.

RESULTS

28,140 minimally invasive nephrectomy patients were included (SDD n = 237 [0.8%], SLD n = 27,903 [99.2%]). There were no significant differences in 30-day readmissions, CD I/II, CDIII, or CD IV complications before and after matching SDD and SLD groups. On multivariate regression analysis, SDD did not confer increased risk of 30-day complications or readmissions for both MIPN and MIRN.

CONCLUSION

SDD after MIPN and MIRN did not confer increased risk of postoperative complications, reoperation, or readmission compared to SLD. Further research should explore optimal patient selection to ensure safe expansion of this initiative.

Conversion to Open Radical or Partial Nephrectomy Associated with Unplanned Hospital Readmission After Attempted Minimally Invasive Approach

Introduction/Objectives: We endeavored to explore the rates of unplanned hospital readmission (UHR) in patients who underwent minimally invasive radical or partial nephrectomy who were subsequently converted to open surgery. Patients and Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was used for this study. Patients diagnosed with renal cancer and who had minimally invasive partial or radical nephrectomy from 2004 to 2016 were included in the study. Patients were categorized as converted or not converted to open surgery. UHR was the outcome of the study and was defined as UHR within 30 days of discharge. We conducted a one-to-one nearest-neighbor propensity-score matching using baseline clinical, tumor, and facility characteristics. To evaluate the relationship between conversion to open surgery and UHR, we conducted a multivariable logistic regression on the propensity-matched cohort, a propensity score-matched model without controlling for any covariate, and a propensity score-adjusted model, controlling for only the propensity score. Results: A total of 142,040 patients were identified, with a 2.98% conversion rate. There was an overall decrease in the rate of conversion to open surgery from 2010 (4.11%) to 2016 (2.43%). Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy remained a significant contributor to the rate of conversion (at least 50% per year). In the unmatched cohort, the UHR rate was higher among those who had a conversion to open surgery (n = 710, 0.52% versus n = 44, 1.04%; P < .001). Similarly, in the propensity score-matched cohort, the UHR rate was higher among those who had a conversion to open (n = 22, 0.52% versus n = 44, 1.04%; P = .007). After controlling for other factors, conversion to open remained independently associated with UHF. Conclusion: Conversion to open radical or partial nephrectomy from a minimally invasive approach is independently associated with an increased risk of 30-day UHR.

Clinical characteristics of renal cell carcinoma in patients under the age of 40

BACKGROUND

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) most commonly afflicts older patients while those 40 years old or younger represent an uncommon population. We aim to describe the tumor characteristics and treatment patterns for young kidney cancer patients utilizing the National Cancer Database.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database Participant User File for RCC was queried from 2004 to 2016. Demographics and treatment trends were analyzed and compared between a young cohort, those aged 40 and younger vs. a conventional cohort, those older than 40. Pathology analyzed included clear cell, papillary, chromophobe, RCC not otherwise specified, and miscellaneous uncategorized. Subanalysis was performed for patients with localized disease and treatment type.

RESULTS

Amongst the 514,879 patients diagnosed with RCC, 4.7% were ≤40 years old. RCC for individuals ≤40 has a higher proportion of female gender, non-Caucasian race, and chromophobe pathology, relative to the conventional cohort. Younger patients more often presented with cT1 disease with decreased rates of metastasis. Risk of 30-day readmission after surgery was similar between cohorts. For patients with cT1-2N0M0 disease, there was a decreasing rate of radical nephrectomy and increasing rate of partial nephrectomy; however, the conventional cohort had an increasing rate of percutaneous ablation while this remained stable in the younger cohort.

CONCLUSION

Young RCC patients had a higher proportion of female gender, chromophobe histology, and favorable tumor characteristics. Partial nephrectomy has seen a dramatic increase in application regardless of age while percutaneous ablation increased only in the conventional cohort.

Analyzing National Incidences and Predictors of Open Conversion During Minimally Invasive Partial Nephrectomy for cT1 Renal Masses

Objectives: To analyze predictors of open conversion during minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (MIPN) for cT1 renal masses. Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was investigated for kidney cancer patients who underwent partial nephrectomy (PN) between 2010 and 2015. Patients who underwent MIPN were stratified into converted and nonconverted groups. Sociodemographics, facility characteristics, and surgical outcomes were compared between the two groups, and multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to identify independent predictors of open conversion. Results: In total, 54,246 patients underwent PN for kidney cancer during the 6-year period. Of those, 18,994 (35%) were open partial nephrectomies (OPNs) and 35,252 (64%) were MIPN. Overall, 1010 (2.87%) of MIPNs were converted to OPN. There was an increasing utilization of MIPN from 50.35% in 2010 to 74.73% in 2015. Patients who had open conversion had more 30-day readmissions (5.95% vs 3.31%, p < 0.01). On multivariate analysis; high-volume facility (>30 MIPNs/year), year of surgery (2015 vs 2010), and robotic approach predicted a lower likelihood of conversion (odds ratio [OR] 0.52, confidence interval [CI] 0.44-0.62; OR 0.59, CI 0.47-0.73; and OR 0.31, CI 0.27-0.35; respectively, p < 0.001 for all). Conversely, Medicaid (vs private insurance; OR 1.75, CI 1.39-2.19, p < 0.001) and male sex (OR 1.26, CI 1.11-1.44, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of conversion. Conclusions: Open conversion in MIPN occurred in 2.87% of cases. There was an increasing utilization of MIPN associated with decreased conversion rates. Higher volume hospitals and progressing year of surgery were associated with less likelihood of conversion.

Early Discharge After Radical Nephrectomy: An Analysis of Complications and Readmissions

INTRODUCTION

Length of stay (LOS) is increasingly being viewed as a quality metric, and efforts to reduce LOS are present across most surgical subspecialties. However, data on whether reducing LOS is safe in patients who undergo radical nephrectomy (RN) are lacking. The purpose of this study was to assess whether early discharge after RN affects readmission rates and postdischarge complications using a national cohort of patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify patients who underwent RN from 2012 to 2015. Procedures were stratified as minimally invasive or open. Early discharge was defined as less than or equal to the procedure-specific 25th percentile for LOS. Multivariable analysis was used to identify factors associated with readmission and postdischarge complications. A sensitivity analysis excluded patients with a LOS >75th percentile.

RESULTS

A total of 11,429 patients were included. The 25th percentile for LOS was 2 days in the minimally invasive group and 3 days in the open group. In multivariable analysis, early discharge did not increase the risk of postdischarge complications (odds ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-1.08; P = .214) and decreased the risk of readmission (odds ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.59-0.87; P = .001).

CONCLUSION

Early discharge after RN does not increase the risk of postdischarge complications or readmission. With the appropriate patient selection, decreasing LOS might lead to decreased surgical costs and improved patient flow. This work provides a foundation for future research that might optimize perioperative care pathways to decrease LOS.

Perioperative Morbidity of Open Versus Minimally Invasive Partial Nephrectomy: A Contemporary Analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

In recent years, there has been a shift to minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (MIPN) with the dissemination of robot-assisted technology. However, contemporary data on the comparative morbidity of open partial nephrectomy (OPN) and MIPN are lacking. We, therefore, evaluated the perioperative morbidity of OPN and MIPN using a contemporary national cohort.

METHODS

We identified 13,658 patients aged 18 to 89 who underwent PN from 2010 to 2015 in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database, of whom 9018 (66.0%) underwent MIPN. The associations of MIPN with 30-day morbidity were evaluated using logistic regression, adjusted for patient features.

RESULTS

Median age at surgery was 60 (interquartile range [IQR] 51, 68) years. Overall, 30-day complications occurred in 6.7% of patients. Compared with OPN, MIPN was associated with lower rates of 30-day complications (4.9% vs 10.1%, p < 0.0001), perioperative blood transfusion (3.8% vs 12.5%, p < 0.0001), prolonged hospitalization (5.6% vs 23.4%, p < 0.0001), readmission (4.4% vs 7.8%, p < 0.0001), reoperation (1.8% vs 3.2%, p < 0.0001), and 30-day mortality (0.3% vs 0.6%, p = 0.001). On multivariable analysis, MIPN was independently associated with a reduced risk of 30-day complications (odds ratio [OR] 0.46, p < 0.0001), perioperative blood transfusion (OR 0.27, p < 0.0001), prolonged hospitalization (OR 0.19, p < 0.0001), readmission (OR 0.59, p < 0.0001), and reoperation (OR 0.57, p < 0.0001). Postoperative complications occurred predominantly early after surgery, whereas hospital readmissions and reoperation occurred at a consistent rate.

CONCLUSIONS

In this contemporary national cohort, MIPN was independently associated with reduced rates of 30-day complications, perioperative blood transfusion, prolonged hospitalization, hospital readmission, and reoperation, compared with OPN.

Episode-based Payment Variation for Urologic Cancer Surgery

OBJECTIVE

To investigate payment variation for 3 common urologic cancer surgeries and evaluate the potential for applying bundled payment programs to these procedures.

METHODS

Using 2008-2011 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked data, we identified all beneficiaries aged greater than 65 years who underwent cystectomy, prostatectomy, or nephrectomy for cancer. Total episode payments were determined by aggregating hospital, professional, and post-acute care claims from the index surgical hospitalization through 90 days post discharge. Total episode payments were then compared to examine hospital level-variation within each procedure type and the specific payment components (ie, index hospitalization, professional, readmission, and post-acute care) driving spending variation.

RESULTS

Ninety-day episodes of care were identified for 1849 cystectomies, 8770 prostatectomies, and 4304 nephrectomies. We observed wide variation in mean episode payments for all 3 conditions (cystectomy mean $35,102: range $24,112-$57,238, prostatectomy mean $10,803: range $8,816-$17,877, nephrectomy mean $17,475: range $11,681-$26,711). Majority of payment variation was attributable to index hospitalization and post-acute care for cystectomy and nephrectomy and professional payments for prostatectomy. The most expensive hospitals by procedure each demonstrated a unique opportunity for spending reduction due to individual differences in component payment patterns between hospitals.

CONCLUSION

Ninety-day episode payments for urologic cancer surgery vary widely across hospitals in the United States. The key drivers of this payment variation differ for individual procedures and hospitals. Accordingly, hospitals will need individualized data and clinical re-design strategies to succeed with implementation of episode-based payment models for urologic cancer care.

Strategies to minimize readmission rates following major urologic surgery

Readmissions after major surgical procedures are prevalent across multiple disciplines. Specifically, in urology, with incorporation of early discharge and recovery pathways, readmissions are emerging as an important problem and effecting an epidemic proportion of urology patients. As expected, readmissions have garnered the attention of major healthcare payers in the United States who see readmissions as easy targets because of the association with astronomical costs. More importantly, readmissions have a significant negative impact on patient sense of wellbeing, and places economic and other hardships on the doors of our patients and their families. Here, we explore the reasons patients are readmitted, using radical cystectomy as a case study, and means to decrease the incidence of readmissions. Since time to readmission for most major urologic oncology surgeries is within the first 2 weeks after discharge, this time frame is critical for efforts to improve symptom identification and reduce the total number and severity of readmissions. Readmission reduction to zero is unlikely for any major surgery, but with effective coordinated strategies, we must strive to reduce the rates as much as possible, as a means to improve the care continuum for our patients.

Hospital readmissions after elective lower extremity vascular procedures

Background This study evaluated risk factors associated with 30-day readmission after open and endovascular lower extremity revascularization. Methods Patients admitted with peripheral artery disease and lower extremity procedures were selected from national electronic medical record data, Cerner Health Facts® (2008-2014). Thirty-day readmission was determined. Logistic regression models identified characteristics independently associated with readmission. Results There were 2781 open and 2611 endovascular procedures. Readmission was 10.9% (9.6% open versus 12.3% endovascular, p<.0001). Greater disease severity was associated with readmission for both groups. Readmission factors for lower extremity bypass: blood transfusions (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.62-3.13), hyponatremia (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.15-2.57), heart failure (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.07-2.29), bronchodilators (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.13-2.00), black race (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.03-1.99), and hypokalemia (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.20-0.95). Readmission factors for endovascular procedures: vasodilators (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.22-2.16), end-stage renal disease (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.02-2.01), fluid and electrolyte disorders (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.00-2.06), hypertension (OR 1.33, 95% CI 0.99-1.76), coronary artery disease (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.02-1.67), and diuretics (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.01-1.70). Conclusions Readmission after lower extremity revascularization is associated with disease severity for both procedures. Factors associated with readmission following lower extremity bypass included heart failure, transfusions, hyponatremia, black race, and bronchodilator use. Risk factors for endovascular readmissions were often chronic conditions including coronary artery disease, kidney disease, hypertension, and hypertensive medications. Awareness of risk factors may help providers identify high-risk patients who may benefit from increased surveillance and programs to lower readmission.

Risk-adjusted outcomes in Medicare inpatient nephrectomy patients

Without risk-adjusted outcomes of surgical care across both the inpatient and postacute period of time, hospitals and surgeons cannot evaluate the effectiveness of current performance in nephrectomy and other operations, and will not have objective metrics to gauge improvements from care redesign efforts.We compared risk-adjusted hospital outcomes following elective total and partial nephrectomy to demonstrate differences that can be used to improve care. We used the Medicare Limited Dataset for 2010 to 2012 for total and partial nephrectomy for benign and malignant neoplasms to create prediction models for the adverse outcomes (AOs) of inpatient deaths, prolonged length-of-stay outliers, 90-day postdischarge deaths without readmission, and 90-day relevant readmissions. From the 4 prediction models, total predicted adverse outcomes were determined for each hospital in the dataset that met a minimum of 25 evaluable cases for the study period. Standard deviations (SDs) for each hospital were used to identify specific z-scores. Risk-adjusted adverse outcomes rates were computed to permit benchmarking each hospital's performance against the national standard. Differences between best and suboptimal performing hospitals defined the potential margin of preventable adverse outcomes for this operation.A total of 449 hospitals with 23,477 patients were evaluated. Overall AO rate was 20.8%; 17 hospitals had risk-adjusted AO rates that were 2 SDs poorer than predicted and 8 were 2 SDs better. The top performing decile of hospitals had a risk-adjusted AO rate of 10.2% while the lowest performing decile had 32.1%. With a minimum of 25 cases for each study hospital, no statistically valid improvement in outcomes was seen with increased case volume.Inpatient and 90-day postdischarge risk-adjusted adverse outcomes demonstrated marked variability among study hospitals and illustrate the opportunities for care improvement. This analytic design is applicable for comparing provider performance across a wide array of different inpatient episodes.

Fragmentation of Care after Surgical Discharge: Non-Index Readmission after Major Cancer Surgery

BACKGROUND

Despite national emphasis on care coordination, little is known about how fragmentation affects cancer surgery outcomes. Our study examines a specific form of fragmentation in post-discharge care-readmission to a hospital different from the location of the operation-and evaluates its causes and consequences among patients readmitted after major cancer surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

We used the State Inpatient Database of California (2004 to 2011) to identify patients who had major cancer surgery and their subsequent readmissions. Logistic models were used to examine correlates of non-index readmissions and to assess associations between location of readmission and outcomes, measured by in-hospital mortality and repeated readmission.

RESULTS

Of 9,233 readmissions within 30 days of discharge after major cancer surgery, 20.0% occurred in non-index hospitals. Non-index readmissions were associated with emergency readmission (odds ratio [OR] = 2.63; 95% CI, 2.26-3.06), rural residence (OR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.61-2.04), and extensive procedures (eg hepatectomy vs proctectomy; OR = 2.77; CI, 2.08-3.70). Mortality was higher during non-index readmissions than index readmissions independent of patient, procedure, and hospital factors (OR = 1.31; 95% CI, 1.03-1.66), but was mitigated by adjusting for conditions present at readmission (OR = 1.24; 95% CI, 0.98-1.58). Non-index readmission predicted higher odds of repeated readmission within 60 days of discharge from the first readmission (OR = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.02-1.32), independent of all covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-index readmissions constitute a substantial proportion of all readmissions after major cancer surgery. They are associated with more repeated readmissions and can be caused by severe surgical complications and increased travel burden. Overcoming disadvantages of non-index readmissions represents an opportunity to improve outcomes for patients having major cancer surgery.

Incidence and Risk Factors Associated with Readmission After Surgical Treatment for Adrenocortical Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. Given the lack of data on readmission after resection of ACC, the objective of the current study was to define the incidence of readmission, as well as identify risk factors associated with readmission among patients with ACC who underwent surgical resection.

METHODS

Two hundred nine patients who underwent resection of ACC between January 1993 and December 2014 at 1 of 13 major centers in the USA were identified. Demographic and clinicopathological data were collected and analyzed relative to readmission.

RESULTS

Median patient age was 52 years, and 62 % of the patients were female. Median tumor size was 12 cm, and the majority of patients had an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class of 3-4 (n = 85, 56 %). The overall incidence of readmission within 90 days from surgery was 18 % (n = 38). Factors associated with readmission included high ASA class (odds ratio (OR), 4.88 (95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.75-13.61); P = 0.002), metastatic disease on presentation (OR, 2.98 (95 % CI, 1.37-6.46); P = 0.006), EBL (>700 mL: OR, 2.75 (95 % CI, 1.16-6.51); P = 0.02), complication (OR, 1.91 (95 % CI, 1.20-3.05); P = 0.007), and prolonged length of stay (LOS; ≥9 days: OR, 4.12 (95 % CI, 1.88-9.01); P < 0.001). On multivariate logistic regression, a high ASA class (OR, 4.01 (95 % CI, 1.44-11.17); P = 0.008) and metastatic disease on presentation (OR, 3.44 (95 % CI, 1.34-8.84); P = 0.01) remained independently associated with higher odds of readmission.

CONCLUSION

Readmission following surgery for ACC was common as one in five patients experienced a readmission. Patients with a high ASA class and metastatic disease on presentation were over four and three times more likely to be readmitted after surgical treatment for ACC, respectively.

Early postoperative emergency department presentation predicts poor long-term outcomes in patients surgically treated for meningioma

Previous authors have identified a number of factors that predict morbidity, mortality, and recurrence in patients undergoing resection of a meningioma. We sought to study a novel potential prognostic indicator: early postoperative visit to the emergency department (ED). We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 239 patients who underwent a meningioma resection at our institution between 2001 and 2013 with over 3 months of follow-up postoperatively. All postoperative entries in the medical record were reviewed to identify any ED visit with a neurologic or wound-related complaint within a 90 day postoperative period. The relationships between ED presentation, tumor grade, and extent of surgical resection with future risk of operative recurrence and mortality were analyzed using Fisher's exact test. Variables associated with increased risks of mortality or operative recurrence in a univariate analysis were then included in the multivariate logistic regression model. Patients with a postoperative ED visit were found to be significantly more likely to die during the follow-up period (23.0% versus 4.85%, p<0.0001) or develop an eventual operative recurrence (12.2% versus 3.0%, p=0.0131). Postoperative ED presentation was found to be associated with a higher risk of mortality and operative recurrence independent of pathological tumor grade (p<0.0001 and p=0.0102, respectively). Presentation to the ED is associated with significantly higher rates of future operative recurrence and mortality in patients with recent meningioma resections. This poor prognostic relationship is independent of tumor pathological grade. Increased vigilance and follow-up may be warranted in such patients.

Factors Influencing Readmission after Elective Ureteroscopy

PURPOSE

Ureteroscopy is increasingly used to manage nephrolithiasis, upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma and other urological conditions. In this study we determine the rate of readmission and emergency department visits after ureteroscopy in an underserved population, as well as factors associated with these unplanned visits.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective chart review from 2010 to 2014 of all elective ureteroscopies was conducted at a single tertiary hospital serving an underserved population in a major metropolis. Demographic, operative and discharge characteristics were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 276 ureteroscopies were performed with 15.6% presenting to the emergency department within 30 days. Overall 5.8% were readmitted. Readmitted patients were more likely to have hypertension (OR 3.64, p=0.02), asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 5.54, p=0.001), 2 or more comorbidities (OR 3.65, p=0.12), or a complication associated with ureteroscopy (OR 7.27, p=0.007). The patients who sought care in the emergency department after ureteroscopy were less likely to have had a ureteral stent in place before ureteroscopy (OR 0.35, p=0.017) or an endoscopic urological procedure within the last 30 days (OR 0.35, p=0.045). About two-thirds of patients who presented to the emergency department complained of pain alone, while the most common complaints for readmitted patients were fever and pain (43.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of emergency department visits after ureteroscopy were due to pain. These patients were less likely to have a preoperative ureteral stent placed or a history of recent urological procedures. Readmission rates were associated with overall comorbidities and complications.