Are readmission rates on a neurosurgical service indicators of quality of care?

Impact of unplanned readmissions on lumbar surgery outcomes: a national study of 33,447 patients

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Unplanned readmissions following lumbar spine surgery have immense clinical and financial implications. However, little is known regarding the impact of unplanned readmissions on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following lumbar spine surgery.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of unplanned readmissions, including specific readmission reasons, on patient reported outcomes 12 months after lumbar spine surgery.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

A retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data was conducted using patients included in the lumbar module of the Quality and Outcomes Database (QOD), a national, multicenter spine registry.

PATIENT SAMPLE

A total of 33,447 patients who underwent elective lumbar spine surgery for degenerative diseases were included. Mean age was 59.8 (SD=14.04), 53.6% were male, 89.5% were white, 45.9% were employed, and 47.5% had private insurance.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Unplanned 90-day readmissions and 12-month patient-reported outcomes (PROs) including numeric rating scale (NRS) scores for back and leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) scores, and North American Spine Society (NASS) patient-satisfaction scores.

METHODS

The lumbar module of the QOD was queried for adults undergoing elective lumbar spine surgery for degenerative disease. Unplanned 90-day readmissions were classified into 4 groups: medical, surgical, pain-only, and no readmissions. Medical and surgical readmissions were further categorized into primary reason for readmission. 12-month PROs assessing patient back and leg pain (NRS), disability (ODI), quality of life (EQ-5D), and patient satisfaction were collected. Multivariable models predicting 12-month PROs were built controlling for covariates.

RESULTS

A total of 31,430 patients (94%) had no unplanned readmission while 2,017 patients (6%) had an unplanned readmission within 90 days following lumbar surgery. Patients with readmissions had significantly worse 12-month PROs compared with those with no unplanned readmissions in covariate-adjusted models. Using Wald-df as a measure of predictor importance, surgical readmissions were associated with the worst 12-month outcomes, followed by pain-only, then medical readmissions. In separate covariate adjusted models, we found that readmissions for pain, SSI/wound dehiscence, and revisions were among the most important predictors of worse outcomes at 12-months.

CONCLUSIONS

Unplanned 90-day readmissions were associated with worse pain, disability, quality of life, and greater dissatisfaction at 12-months, with surgical readmissions having the greatest impact, followed by pain-only readmissions, then medical readmissions. Readmissions for pain, SSI/wound dehiscence, and revisions were the most important predictors of worse outcomes. These results may help providers better understand the factors that impact outcomes following lumbar spine surgery and promote improved patient counseling and perioperative management.

Unplanned 30-Day Readmission in Glioblastoma Patients: Implications for the Extent of Resection and Adjuvant Therapy

BACKGROUND

Unplanned early readmission (UER) within 30 days after hospital release is a negative prognostic marker for patients diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM). This work analyzes the impact of UER on the effects of standard therapy modalities for GBM patients, including the extent of resection (EOR) and adjuvant therapy regimen.

METHODS

Records were searched for patients with newly diagnosed GBM between 2014 and 2020 who were treated at our facility. Exclusion criteria were being aged below 18 years or missing data. An overall survival (OS) analysis (Kaplan-Meier estimate; Cox regression) was performed on various GBM patient sub-cohorts.

RESULTS

A total of 276 patients were included in the study. UER occurred in 13.4% (n = 37) of all cases, significantly reduced median OS (5.7 vs. 14.5 months, p < 0.001 by logrank), and was associated with an increased hazard of mortality (hazard ratio 3.875, p < 0.001) in multivariate Cox regression when other clinical parameters were applied as confounders. The Kaplan-Meier analysis also showed that patients experiencing UER still benefitted from adjuvant radio-chemotherapy when compared to radiotherapy or no adjuvant therapy (p < 0.001 by logrank). A higher EOR did not improve OS in GBM patients with UER (p = 0.659).

CONCLUSION

UER is negatively associated with survival in GBM patients. In contrast to EOR, adjuvant radio-chemotherapy was beneficial, even after UER.

Adverse events in neurosurgery: a comprehensive single-center analysis of a prospectively compiled database

PURPOSE

To prospectively identify and quantify neurosurgical adverse events (AEs) in a tertiary care hospital.

METHODS

From January 2021 to December 2021, all patients treated in our department received a peer-reviewed AE-evaluation form at discharge. An AE was defined as any event after surgery that resulted in an undesirable clinical outcome, which is not caused by the underlying disease, that prolonged patient stay, resulted in readmission, caused a new neurological deficit, required revision surgery or life-saving intervention, or contributed to death. We considered AEs occurring within 30 days after discharge. AEs were categorized in wound event, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) event, CSF shunt malfunction, post-operative infection, malpositioning of implanted material, new neurological deficit, rebleeding, and surgical goal not achieved and non-neurosurgical AEs.

RESULTS

2874 patients were included. Most procedures were cranial (45.1%), followed by spinal (33.9%), subdural (7.7%), CSF (7.0%), neuromodulation (4.0%), and other (2.3%). In total, there were 621 AEs shared by 532 patients (18.5%). 80 (2.8%) patients had multiple AEs. Most AEs were non-neurosurgical (222; 8.1%). There were 172 (6%) revision surgeries. Patients receiving cranial interventions had the most AEs (19.1%) although revision surgery was only necessary in 3.1% of patients. Subdural interventions had the highest revision rate (12.6%). The majority of fatalities was admitted as an emergency (81/91 patients, 89%). Ten elective patients had lethal complications, six of them related to surgery (0.2%).

CONCLUSION

This study presents the one-year results of a prospectively compiled AE database. Neurosurgical AEs arose in one in five patients. Although the need for revision surgery was low, the rate of AEs highlights the importance of a systematic AE database to deliver continued high-quality in a high-volume center.

Can Currently Suggested Quality Indicators Be Transferred to Meningioma Surgery?-A Single-Center Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

 Risk stratification based on standardized quality measures has become crucial in neurosurgery. Contemporary quality indicators have often been developed for a wide range of neurosurgical procedures collectively. The accuracy of tumor-inherent characteristics of patients diagnosed with meningioma remains questionable. The objective of this study was the analysis of currently applied quality indicators in meningioma surgery and the identification of potential new measures.

METHODS

 Data of 133 patients who were operated on due to intracranial meningiomas were subjected to a retrospective analysis. The primary outcomes of interest were classical quality indicators such as the 30-day readmission, 30-day reoperation, 30-day mortality, 30-day nosocomial infection, and the 30-day surgical site infection rate. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed. The occurrence of a new postoperative neurologic deficit was analyzed as a potential new quality indicator.

RESULTS

 The overall unplanned readmission rate was 3.8%; 13 patients were reoperated within 30 days (9.8%). The 30-day nosocomial infection and surgical site infection rates were 6.8 and 1.5%, respectively. A postoperative new neurologic deficit or neurologic deterioration as a currently assessed quality feature was observed in 12 patients (9.2%). The edema volume on preoperative scans proved to have a significant impact on the occurrence of a new postoperative neurologic deficit (p = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

 Classical quality indicators in neurosurgery have proved to correlate with considerable deterioration of the patient's health in meningioma surgery and thus should be taken into consideration for application in meningioma patients. The occurrence of a new postoperative neurologic deficit is common and procedure specific. Thus, this should be elucidated for application as a complementary quality indicator in meningioma surgery.

Predictors and Impact of Postoperative 30-Day Readmission in Glioblastoma

BACKGROUND

Postoperative 30-day readmissions have been shown to negatively affect survival and other important outcomes in patients with glioblastoma (GBM).

OBJECTIVE

To further investigate patient readmission risk factors of primary and recurrent patients with GBM.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed records of 418 adult patients undergoing 575 craniotomies for histologically confirmed GBM at an academic medical center. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and clinical characteristics were collected and compared by patient readmission status using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U testing. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors that predicted 30-day readmissions.

RESULTS

The cohort included 69 (12%) 30-day readmissions after 575 operations. Readmitted patients experienced significantly lower median overall survival (11.3 vs 16.4 months, P = .014), had a lower mean Karnofsky Performance Scale score (66.9 vs 74.2, P = .005), and had a longer initial length of stay (6.1 vs 5.3 days, P = .007) relative to their nonreadmitted counterparts. Readmitted patients experienced more postoperative deep vein thromboses or pulmonary embolisms (12% vs 4%, P = .006), new motor deficits (29% vs 14%, P = .002), and nonhome discharges (39% vs 22%, P = .005) relative to their nonreadmitted counterparts. Multivariable analysis demonstrated increased odds of 30-day readmission with each 10-point decrease in Karnofsky Performance Scale score (odds ratio [OR] 1.32, P = .002), each single-point increase in 5-factor modified frailty index (OR 1.51, P = .016), and initial presentation with cognitive deficits (OR 2.11, P = .013).

CONCLUSION

Preoperatively available clinical characteristics strongly predicted 30-day readmissions in patients undergoing surgery for GBM. Opportunities may exist to optimize preoperative and postoperative management of at-risk patients with GBM, with downstream improvements in clinical outcomes.

The Relation of Surgical Procedures and Diagnosis Groups to Unplanned Readmission in Spinal Neurosurgery: A Retrospective Single Center Study

Background: Unplanned readmission has gained increasing interest as a quality marker for inpatient care, as it is associated with patient mortality and higher economic costs. Spinal neurosurgery is characterized by a lack of epidemiologic readmission data. The aim of this study was to identify causes and predictors for unplanned readmissions related to index diagnoses and surgical procedures. Methods: In this study, from 2015 to 2017, spinal neurosurgical procedures were recorded for surgical and non-surgical treated patients. The main reasons for an unplanned readmission within 30 days following discharge were identified. Multivariate logarithmic regression revealed predictors of unplanned readmission. Results: A total of 1172 patient records were examined, of which 4.27% disclosed unplanned readmissions. Among the surgical patients, the readmission rate was 4.06%, mainly attributable to surgical site infections, while it was 5.06% for the non-surgical patients, attributable to uncontrolled pain. A night-time surgery presented as the independent predictive factor. Conclusion: In the heterogeneous group of spinal neurosurgical patients, stratification into diagnostic groups is necessary for statistical analysis. Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis and spinal abscesses are mainly affected by unplanned readmission. The surgical procedure dorsal root ganglion stimulation is an independent predictor of unplanned re-hospitalizations, as is the timing of surgery.

Neurosurgical Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Central Germany: A Retrospective Single Center Study of the Second Wave

The healthcare system has been placed under an enormous burden by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. In addition to the challenge of providing sufficient care for COVID-19 patients, there is also a need to ensure adequate care for non-COVID-19 patients. We investigated neurosurgical care in a university hospital during the pandemic. We examined the second wave of the pandemic from 1 October 2020 to 15 March 2021 in this retrospective single-center study and compared it to a pre-pandemic period from 1 October 2019 to 15 March 2020. Any neurosurgical intervention, along with patient- and treatment-dependent factors, were recorded. We also examined perioperative complications and unplanned readmissions. A statistical comparison of the study groups was performed. We treated 535 patients with a total of 602 neurosurgical surgeries during the pandemic. This compares to 602 patients with 717 surgeries during the pre-pandemic period. There were 67 fewer patients (reduction to 88.87%) admitted and 115 fewer surgeries (reduction to 83.96%) performed, which were essentially highly elective procedures, such as cervical spinal stenosis, intracranial neurinomas, and peripheral nerve lesions. Regarding complication rates and unplanned readmissions, there was no significant difference between the COVID-19 pandemic and the non-pandemic patient group. Operative capacities were slightly reduced to 88% due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, comprehensive emergency and elective care was guaranteed in our university hospital. This speaks for the sufficient resources and high-quality processes that existed even before the pandemic.

Classical and disease-specific quality indicators in glioma surgery—Development of a quality checklist to improve treatment quality in glioma patients

Background

There is a pressing demand for more accurate, disease-specific quality measures in the field of neurosurgery. Aiming at most adequately measuring and reflecting the quality of glioma therapy, we developed a novel quality indicator bundle in form of a checklist for all patients that are treated operatively for glioma.

Methods

On the basis of possible glioma-specific quality indicators retrieved from the literature and quality guidelines, a multidisciplinary team developed a checklist containing 13 patient-need-specific outcome measures. Subsequently, the checklist was prospectively applied to a total of 78 patients compared with a control group consisting of 322 patients. A score was generated based on the maximum of quality measures achieved.

Results

Significant improvements in quality after prospectively introducing the checklist were achieved for supplemental physical and occupational therapy during inpatient stay (89.4% vs 100%, P = .002), consultation of a social worker during inpatient stay (64% vs 92.3%, P &lt; .001), psycho-oncological screening (14.3% vs 70.5%, P &lt; .001), psycho-oncological consultation (31.1% vs 82.1%, P &lt; .001), and consultation of the palliative care team (20% vs 40%, P = .031). Overall, after introduction of the checklist one-third (n = 23) of patients reached best-practice measures in all categories, and over half of the patients (n = 44) achieved above 90% with respect to the outcome measures.

Conclusions

Aiming at ensuring comprehensive, consistent, and timely care of glioma patients, the implementation of the checklist for routine use in glioma surgery represents an efficient, easily reproducible, and powerful tool for significant improvements.

Development and validation of prediction scores for nosocomial infections, reoperations, and adverse events in the daily clinical setting of neurosurgical patients with cerebral and spinal tumors

OBJECTIVE

Various quality indicators are currently under investigation, aiming at measuring the quality of care in neurosurgery; however, the discipline currently lacks practical scoring systems for accurately assessing risk. The aim of this study was to develop three accurate, easy-to-use risk scoring systems for nosocomial infections, reoperations, and adverse events for patients with cerebral and spinal tumors.

METHODS

The authors developed a semiautomatic registry with administrative and clinical data and included all patients with spinal or cerebral tumors treated between September 2017 and May 2019. Patients were further divided into development and validation cohorts. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to develop risk scores by assigning points based on β coefficients, and internal validation of the scores was performed.

RESULTS

In total, 1000 patients were included. An unplanned 30-day reoperation was observed in 6.8% of patients. Nosocomial infections were documented in 7.4% of cases and any adverse event in 14.5%. The risk scores comprise variables such as emergency admission, nursing care level, ECOG performance status, and inflammatory markers on admission. Three scoring systems, NoInfECT for predicting the incidence of nosocomial infections (low risk, 1.8%; intermediate risk, 8.1%; and high risk, 26.0% [p < 0.001]), LEUCut for 30-day unplanned reoperations (low risk, 2.2%; intermediate risk, 6.8%; and high risk, 13.5% [p < 0.001]), and LINC for any adverse events (low risk, 7.6%; intermediate risk, 15.7%; and high risk, 49.5% [p < 0.001]), showed satisfactory discrimination between the different outcome groups in receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (AUC ≥ 0.7).

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed risk scores allow efficient prediction of the likelihood of adverse events, to compare quality of care between different providers, and further provide guidance to surgeons on how to allocate preoperative care.

The 30-day readmission rate in neurosurgery-a useful indicator for quality assessment?

BACKGROUND

A shift in how we evaluate healthcare outcomes has driven the introduction of quality indicators as potential parameters to evaluate value-based healthcare delivery. So far, only few studies have been performed evaluating quality indicators in the context of neurosurgery, especially in the European region. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 30-day readmission rate, identify reasons for readmission regarding the various neurosurgical diagnoses, and discuss the usefulness of this rate as a potential quality indicator.

METHODS

During a 6-year period, a total of 8878 hospitalized patients in our neurosurgical department were retrospectively analyzed and included in this study. Reasons for readmission were identified. Patients' diagnoses and baseline characteristics were obtained in order to identify possible risk factors for readmission.

RESULTS

The 30-day readmission rate was 2.9%. The most common reason for unplanned readmissions were surgical site infections. The reasons for readmissions varied significantly between the different underlying neurosurgical diseases (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed hydrocephalus (OR, 4) and shorter length of stay during index admission (OR, 0.9) as risk factors for readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

We provided an analysis of reasons for readmission for various neurosurgical diseases in a large patient spectrum in Germany. Although readmission rates are easy to track and an attractive tool for quality assessment, the rate alone cannot be seen as an adequate measure for quality in neurosurgery as it lacks a homogenous definition and depends on the underlying health care system. In addition, strategies for risk adjustment are required.

Early unplanned readmission of neurosurgical patients after treatment of intracranial lesions: a comparison between surgical and non-surgical intervention group

Background

Recent health care policy making has highlighted the necessity for understanding factors that influence readmission. To elucidate the rate, reason, and predictors of readmissions in neurosurgical patients, we analyzed unscheduled readmissions to our neurosurgical department after treatment for cranial or cerebral lesions.

Methods

From 2015 to 2017, all adult patients who had been discharged from our Department of Neurosurgery and were readmitted within 30 days were included into the study cohort. The patients were divided into a surgical and a non-surgical group. The main outcome measure was unplanned inpatient admission within 30 days of discharge.

Results

During the observation period, 183 (7.4%) of 2486 patients had to be readmitted unexpectedly within 30 days after discharge. The main readmission causes were surgical site infection (34.4 %) and seizure (16.4%) in the surgical group, compared to natural progression of the original diagnosis (38.2%) in the non-surgical group. Most important predictors for an unplanned readmission were younger age, presence of malignoma (OR: 2.44), and presence of cardiovascular side diagnoses in the surgical group. In the non-surgical group, predictors were length of stay (OR: 1.07) and the need for intensive care (OR: 5.79).

Conclusions

We demonstrated that reasons for readmission vary between operated and non-operated patients and are preventable in large numbers. In addition, we identified treatment-related partly modifiable factors as predictors of unplanned readmission in the non-surgical group, while unmodifiable patient-related factors predominated in the surgical group. Further patient-related risk adjustment models are needed to establish an individualized preventive strategy in order to reduce unplanned readmissions.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00701-020-04521-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Readmission after endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery: analysis of 584 consecutive cases

OBJECTIVE

Hospital readmission is a key component in value-based healthcare models but there are limited data about the 30-day readmission rate after endonasal endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) for pituitary adenoma. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and identify factors associated with 30-day readmission after EETS for pituitary adenoma.

METHODS

The authors analyzed a prospectively acquired database of patients who underwent EETS for pituitary adenoma from 2005 to 2018 at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine. Clinical, socioeconomic, and radiographic data were reviewed for cases of unplanned readmission within 30 days of surgery and, as a control group, for all other patients in the series who were not readmitted. Statistical significance was determined with an alpha < 0.05 using Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and the independent-samples t-test for continuous variables.

RESULTS

Of 584 patients undergoing EETS for pituitary adenoma, 27 (4.6%) had unplanned readmission within 30 days. Most readmissions occurred within the first week after surgery, with a mean time to readmission of 6.6 ± 3.9 days. The majority of readmissions (59%) were for hyponatremia. These patients had a mean sodium level of 120.6 ± 4.6 mEq/L at presentation. Other causes of readmission were epistaxis (11%), spinal headache (11%), sellar hematoma (7.4%), CSF leak (3.7%), nonspecific headache (3.7%), and pulmonary embolism (3.7%). The postoperative length of stay was significantly shorter for patients who were readmitted than for the controls (2.7 ± 1.0 days vs 3.9 ± 3.2 days; p < 0.05). Patients readmitted for hyponatremia had an initial length of stay of 2.6 ± 0.9 days, the shortest of any cause for readmission. The mean BMI was significantly lower for readmitted patients than for the controls (26.4 ± 3.9 kg/m2 vs 29.3 ± 6.1 kg/m2; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Readmission after EETS for pituitary adenoma is a relatively rare phenomenon, with delayed hyponatremia being the primary cause. The study results demonstrate that shorter postoperative length of stay and lower BMI were associated with 30-day readmission.

Causes of hospital readmissions within 7 days from the neurosurgical service of a quaternary referral hospital

Background:

Evaluation of readmission rates as a proxy metric of health-care quality in neurological surgery has grown to become a prevalent area of investigation in the last several years. Significant attention has been paid to 30-day readmission rates due to the financial incentive to health-care providers following the enforcement of the penalties created by the Affordable Care Act. However, relatively little attention has been paid to patients readmitted within 7 days of discharge to large quaternary neurological surgery services. This study was conducted to examine the causes and unique characteristics of 7-day readmission rates from a neurosurgical service at a large quaternary referral hospital.

Methods:

A retrospective observational analysis of all 7-day readmissions to the neurosurgical surgery service of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital from August 2017 to June 2019, was performed. Patients were organized into seven categories based on their primary reason for readmission: scheduled surgeries, infection, pain, altered mental status or seizures, general postoperative complications, complications directly resulting from a neurosurgical intervention, and unrelated reasons. Demographic information, the time between initial discharge and subsequent readmission, and discharge disposition were also recorded.

Results:

Of 5274 discharges, 258 patients (4.9%) were readmitted within 7 days (55.0% male; mean age 60 years of age). Two-thirds of patients readmitted initially underwent care for cranial pathologies (57% of 258 patients) as opposed to a third for spine pathologies (33% of 258 patients). Complications that directly arose from the neurosurgical intervention (e.g., shunt infection or misplacement, and hardware misplacement) represented 18.9% of total readmission, while general postoperative complications (e.g., urinary tract infection) accounted for 15.1% of total readmission, in which all together were slightly greater than a third of readmissions. Seizures or altered mental status led to less than a fifth of readmissions (17.0%), followed by readmissions from unrelated diagnosis or miscellaneous reasons (17.0%) and scheduled surgeries (13.1%). Taken together, surgical site infections (9.7%) and postoperative pain (9.3%) accounted for 9.7% and 9.3 % of readmissions, respectively.

Conclusion:

Approximately 5% of patients discharged in a single year from our quaternary referral center were readmitted within 7-days. Approximately 90% of all 7-day readmissions were unplanned, with one-third resulting directly from perioperative complications. Further investigation to better understand this acutely vulnerable yet previously overlooked population may guide focused efforts to increase the quality of neurosurgical patient care.

An additive score optimized by a genetic learning algorithm predicts readmission risk after glioblastoma resection

Thirty-day readmission following glioblastoma (GBM) resection is not only correlated with decreased overall survival but also increasingly tied to quality metrics and reimbursement. This study aimed to determine factors linked with 30-day readmission to develop a simple risk stratification score. From 2005 to 2016, 666 unique resections (467 patients) of primary/recurrent tissue-confirmed glioblastoma were retrospectively identified. We recorded patient demographics and medical history, tumor characteristics, post-operative complications and 30-day readmission. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression, optimized using a genetic learning algorithm, were used to determine factors associated with readmission. The multivariate model was converted to a simple additive score. The 30-day readmission rate was 20.3% in our cohort of 666 unique resections (60.7% first resection). Lower pre/post-operative KPS, recurrent resection, surgical-site infection, post-operative VTE, post-operative VPS, and discharge to a rehabilitation facility were significantly associated with an increased readmission risk (p < 0.05). MGMT methylation and chemoradiation were associated with decreased readmission risk (p < 0.05). Medical co-morbidities and past medical history, location of tumor in eloquent areas of the brain, and length of ICU/hospital stay did not predict readmission. The Glioblastoma Readmission Risk Score, developed from the multivariate model, accounts for increased BMI, decreased pre-operative KPS, current smoking, post-operative complications, MGMT methylation, and post-operative radiation. This risk score can be routinely used to stratify risk and assist in clinical decision making and outcome analyses.

The LACE+ Index as a Predictor of 90-Day Supratentorial Tumor Surgery Outcomes

BACKGROUND

The LACE+ (Length of stay, Acuity of admission, Charlson Comorbidity Index [CCI] score, and Emergency department [ED] visits in the past 6 mo) index risk-prediction tool has never been successfully tested in a neurosurgery population.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the ability of LACE+ to predict adverse outcomes after supratentorial brain tumor surgery.

METHODS

LACE+ scores were retrospectively calculated for all patients (n = 624) who underwent surgery for supratentorial tumors at the University of Pennsylvania Health System (2017-2019). Confounding variables were controlled with coarsened exact matching. The frequency of unplanned hospital readmission, ED visits, and death was compared for patients with different LACE+ score quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4).

RESULTS

A total of 134 patients were matched between Q1 and Q4; 152 patients were matched between Q2 and Q4; and 192 patients were matched between Q3 and Q4. Patients with higher LACE+ scores were significantly more likely to be readmitted within 90 d (90D) of discharge for Q1 vs Q4 (21.88% vs 46.88%, P = .005) and Q2 vs Q4 (27.03% vs 55.41%, P = .001). Patients with larger LACE+ scores also had significantly increased risk of 90D ED visits for Q1 vs Q4 (13.33% vs 30.00%, P = .027) and Q2 vs Q4 (22.54% vs 39.44%, P = .039). LACE+ score also correlated with death within 90D of surgery for Q2 vs Q4 (2.63% vs 15.79%, P = .003) and with death at any point after surgery/during follow-up for Q1 vs Q4 (7.46% vs 28.36%, P = .002), Q2 vs Q4 (15.79% vs 31.58%, P = .011), and Q3 vs Q4 (18.75% vs 31.25%, P = .047).

CONCLUSION

LACE+ may be suitable for characterizing risk of certain perioperative events in a patient population undergoing supratentorial brain tumor resection.

The rise of quality indicators in neurosurgery: 30-day unplanned reoperation rate evaluated in 3760 patients-a single-center experience

OBJECTIVE

Quality indicators are emerging as tools to evaluate health care outcomes. Few studies have evaluated indicators suitable for neurosurgery so far. Among others, reoperation rate has been suggested as a possible indicator. We aimed to evaluate the reoperation rate in a large neurosurgery adult collective.

METHODS

In this exploratory post hoc analysis, we evaluated all patients operated in our service for elective and emergency surgery between January 2014 and May 2016. Planned and unplanned reoperations were filtered and a quantitative analysis, including uni- and multivariate analyses, was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 3760 patients were included in this evaluation. From 378 reoperated patients within 30 days (10.1%), 51 underwent planned procedures (1.4%). Three hundred twenty-seven patients (8.7%) represented the analyzed collective of patients having undergone unplanned surgical procedures, causing a total of 409 from 4268 additional procedures (9.6%). Early unplanned 7-day reoperation rate was 4.5% (n = 193), occurring in 4.5% of patients (n = 193). Postoperative hemorrhage (n = 107, 26.2%) and external ventricle drainage-associated infections or dislocation (n = 105, 25.7 %) were the most common indication for unplanned surgery.

CONCLUSION

Unplanned re-operation rate of a neurosurgical service can help to internally evaluate health care outcome and improve quality of care. Benchmarking with this indicator however is not recommendable as results can vary distinctly due to the heterogenic patient collective of each institution. We expect unplanned reoperation rates to be higher in large university hospitals and tertiary centers with complex cases, as compared to center with less complex cases treating patients with lower morbidity. In this study, we deliver an authentic portrait of a large neurosurgical center in Germany.

Readmission after neurosurgical intervention in epilepsy: A nationwide cohort analysis

OBJECTIVE

Hospital readmissions result in increased health care costs and are associated with worse outcomes after neurosurgical intervention. Understanding factors associated with readmissions will inform future studies aimed at improving quality of care in those with epilepsy.

METHODS

Patients of all ages with epilepsy who underwent a neurosurgical intervention were identified in the 2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database, a nationally representative dataset containing data from roughly 17 million US hospital discharges. Diagnosis of epilepsy was based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM)-based case definitions. Neurosurgical interventions for epilepsy: resective/disconnective surgery, responsive neurostimulation/deep brain stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, radiosurgery, and intracranial electroencephalography were identified using ICD-9-CM procedure codes. Primary outcome was all-cause 30-day readmission following discharge from the index hospitalization.

RESULTS

There were a total of 2284 index surgical admissions. Overall, 10.83% (n = 251) of patients following an index epilepsy surgery admission were readmitted within 30 days. Factors independently associated with 30-day readmission for all epilepsy surgery admissions were: Medicare insurance (P < .01), discharge disposition that was not home (P < .01), higher Elixhauser comorbidity indexes (P < .01), longer length of stay (P < .01), and adverse events of surgical and medical care during index stay (P = .04). In the multivariate model, Medicare insurance (hazard ratio [HR] 1.81 [1.29-2.53], P < .01) and length of stay (HR 1.02 [1.01-1.04], P < .01) remained significant independent predictors for 30-day readmission. The most common primary reason for readmissions was epilepsy/convulsions accounting for 22.85%.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our results suggest that careful management of postoperative seizures and discharge planning after epilepsy surgery may be important to optimize outcomes and reduce the risk of readmission, particularly for patients on Medicare.

Towards a patient journey perspective on causes of unplanned readmissions using a classification framework: results of a systematic review with narrative synthesis

BACKGROUND

Several literature reviews have been published focusing on the prevalence and/or preventability of hospital readmissions. To our knowledge, none focused on the different causes which have been used to evaluate the preventability of readmissions. Insight into the range of causes is crucial to understand the complex nature of readmissions. We conducted a systematic review to: (1) evaluate the range of causes of unplanned readmissions in a patient journey, and (2) present a cause classification framework that can support future readmission studies.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted in PUBMED and EMBASE using "readmission" and "avoidability" or "preventability" as key terms. Studies that specified causes of unplanned readmissions were included. The causes were classified into eight preliminary root causes: Technical, Organization (integrated care), Organization (hospital department level), Human (care provider), Human (informal caregiver), Patient (self-management), Patient (disease), and Other. The root causes were based on expert opinions and the root cause analysis tool of PRISMA (Prevention and Recovery Information System for Monitoring and Analysis). The range of different causes were analyzed using Microsoft Excel.

RESULTS

Forty-five studies that reported 381 causes of readmissions were included. All studies reported causes related to organization of care at the hospital department level. These causes were often reported as preventable. Twenty-two studies included causes related to patient's self-management and 19 studies reported causes related to patient's disease. Studies differed in which causes were seen as preventable or unpreventable. None reported causes related to technical failures and causes due to integrated care issues were reported in 18 studies.

CONCLUSIONS

This review showed that causes for readmissions were mainly evaluated from a hospital perspective. However, causes beyond the scope of the hospital can also play a major role in unplanned readmissions. Opinions regarding preventability seem to depend on contextual factors of the readmission. This study presents a cause classification framework that could help future readmission studies to gain insight into a broad range of causes for readmissions in a patient journey.

Hospital Length of Stay and Readmission Rate for Neurosurgical Patients

BACKGROUND

Hospital readmission rate has become a major indicator of quality of care, with penalties given to hospitals with high rates of readmission. At the same time, insurers are increasing pressure for greater efficiency and reduced costs, including decreasing hospital lengths of stay (LOS).

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the authors' service to determine if there is a relationship between LOS and readmission rates.

METHODS

Records of patients admitted to the authors' institution from October 2007 through June 2014 were analyzed for several data points, including initial LOS, readmission occurrence, admitting and secondary diagnoses, and discharge disposition.

RESULTS

Out of 9409 patient encounters, there were 925 readmissions. Average LOS was 6 d. Univariate analysis indicated a higher readmission rate with more diagnoses upon admission (P < .001) and an association between insurance type and readmission (P < .001), as well as decreasing average yearly LOS (P = .0045). Multivariate analysis indicated statistically significant associations between longer LOS (P = .03) and government insurance (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

A decreasing LOS over time has been associated with an increasing readmission rate at the population level. However, at the individual level, a prolonged LOS was associated with a higher risk of readmission. This was attributed to patient comorbidities. However, this increasing readmission rate may represent many factors including patients' overall health status. Thus, the rate of readmission may represent a burden of illness rather than a valid metric for quality of care.

How do studies assess the preventability of readmissions? A systematic review with narrative synthesis

Background

A large number of articles examined the preventability rate of readmissions, but comparison and interpretability of these preventability rates is complicated due to the large heterogeneity of methods that were used.

To compare (the implications of) the different methods used to assess the preventability of readmissions by means of medical record review.

Methods

A literature search was conducted in PUBMED and EMBASE using “readmission” and “avoidability” or “preventability” as key terms. A consensus-based narrative data synthesis was performed to compare and discuss the different methods.

Results

Abstracts of 2504 unique citations were screened resulting in 48 full text articles which were included in the final analysis. Synthesis led to the identification of a set of important variables on which the studies differed considerably (type of readmissions, sources of information, definition of preventability, cause classification and reviewer process). In 69% of the studies the cause classification and preventability assessment were integrated; meaning specific causes were predefined as preventable or not preventable. The reviewers were most often medical specialist (67%), and 27% of the studies added interview as a source of information.

Conclusion

A consensus-based standardised approach to assess preventability of readmission is warranted to reduce the unwanted bias in preventability rates. Patient-related and integrated care related factors are potentially underreported in readmission studies.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12874-019-0766-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Establishing risk-adjusted quality indicators in surgery using administrative data-an example from neurosurgery

BACKGROUND

The current draft of the German Hospital Structure Law requires remuneration to incorporate quality indicators. For neurosurgery, several quality indicators have been discussed, such as 30-day readmission, reoperation, or mortality rates; the rates of infections; or the length of stay. When comparing neurosurgical departments regarding these indicators, very heterogeneous patient spectrums complicate benchmarking due to the lack of risk adjustment.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we performed an analysis of quality indicators and possible risk adjustment, based only on administrative data.

METHODS

All adult patients that were treated as inpatients for a brain or spinal tumour at our neurosurgical department between 2013 and 2017 were assessed for the abovementioned quality indicators. DRG-related data such as relative weight, PCCL (patient clinical complexity level), ICD-10 major diagnosis category, secondary diagnoses, age and sex were obtained. The age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was calculated. Logistic regression analyses were performed in order to correlate quality indicators with administrative data.

RESULTS

Overall, 2623 cases were enrolled into the study. Most patients were treated for glioma (n = 1055, 40.2%). The CCI did not correlate with the quality indicators, whereas PCCL showed a positive correlation with 30-day readmission and reoperation, SSI and nosocomial infection rates.

CONCLUSION

All previously discussed quality indicators are easily derived from administrative data. Administrative data alone might not be sufficient for adequate risk adjustment as they do not reflect the endogenous risk of the patient and are influenced by certain complications during inpatient stay. Appropriate concepts for risk adjustment should be compiled on the basis of prospectively designed registry studies.

Thirty-day readmission rate as a surrogate marker for quality of care in neurosurgical patients: a single-center Canadian experience

OBJECTIVE

Readmission to the hospital within 30 days of discharge is used as a surrogate marker for quality and value of care in the United States (US) healthcare system. Concern exists regarding the value of 30-day readmission as a quality of care metric in neurosurgical patients. Few studies have assessed 30-day readmission rates in neurosurgical patients outside the US. The authors performed a retrospective review of all adult neurosurgical patients admitted to a single Canadian neurosurgical academic center and who were discharged to home to assess for the all-cause 30-day readmission rate, unplanned 30-day readmission rate, and avoidable 30-day readmission rate.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed assessing 30-day readmission rates after discharge to home in all neurosurgical patients admitted to a single academic neurosurgical center from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2011. The primary outcomes included rates of all-cause, unplanned, and avoidable readmissions within 30 days of discharge. Secondary outcomes included factors associated with unplanned and avoidable 30-day readmissions.

RESULTS

A total of 184 of 950 patients (19.4%) were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge. One-hundred three patients (10.8%) were readmitted for an unplanned reason and 81 (8.5%) were readmitted for a planned or rescheduled operation. Only 19 readmissions (10%) were for a potentially avoidable reason. Univariate analysis identified factors associated with readmission for a complication or persistent/worsening symptom, including age (p = 0.009), length of stay (p = 0.007), general neurosurgery diagnosis (p < 0.001), cranial pathology (p < 0.001), intensive care unit (ICU) admission (p < 0.001), number of initial admission operations (p = 0.01), and shunt procedures (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified predictive factors of readmission, including diagnosis (p = 0.002, OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4-5.3), cranial pathology (p = 0.002, OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.4-5.3), ICU admission (p = 0.004, OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.2), and number of first admission operations (p = 0.01, OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.3-0.87). Univariate analysis performed to identify factors associated with potentially avoidable readmissions included length of stay (p = 0.03), diagnosis (p < 0.001), cranial pathology (p = 0.02), and shunt procedures (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified only shunt procedures as a predictive factor for avoidable readmission (p = 0.02, OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.4-22.8).

CONCLUSIONS

Almost one-fifth of neurosurgical patients were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. However, only about half of these patients were admitted for an unplanned reason, and only 10% of all readmissions were potentially avoidable. This study demonstrates unique challenges encountered in a publicly funded healthcare setting and supports the growing literature suggesting 30-day readmission rates may serve as an inappropriate quality of care metric in neurosurgical patients. Potentially avoidable readmissions can be predicted, and further research assessing predictors of avoidable readmissions is warranted.

Evaluation of Hospital-wide Readmission Risk Calculator to Predict 30-Day Readmission in Neurocritical Care Patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Thirty-day hospital readmissions have been shown to be a measure of quality and result in higher mortality and increased costs. Readmissions are a target for hospitals and payers; thus, several centers have developed predictive readmission scores to identify high-risk patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current hospital-wide readmission risk calculator and the ability of this tool to predict 30-day readmissions in the neurocritical care population.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed that included 340 consecutive patients admitted to our neuroscience critical care unit. Data including readmission scores, reason for admission, length of stay, and whether they were readmitted were recorded.

RESULTS

After removing patients without readmission scores or who died at the end of the original admission, the records of N = 279 patients were analyzed. Patients were more likely to be readmitted if they were initially emergently hospitalized or if there was a history of malignancy. Readmitted patients had a longer original hospital length of stay. Furthermore, 65.8% of the patients who were given a "low risk" for readmission were readmitted within 30 days.

CONCLUSIONS

This small set of data in a specific patient population found that the current risk prediction score was inaccurate in predicting readmission in the neuroscience intensive care unit population. Further evaluation is needed of a larger patient population to generalize these results for all neuroscience intensive care unit patients. To design an accurate readmission risk tool, centers should create unique readmission scores based on less heterogeneous patient populations.

Adverse events in brain tumor surgery: incidence, type, and impact on current quality metrics

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to determine pre-operative factors associated with adverse events occurring within 30 days after neurosurgical tumor treatment in a German center, adjusting for their incidence in order to prospectively compare different centers.

METHODS

Adult patients that were hospitalized due to a benign or malignant brain were retrospectively assessed for quality indicators and adverse events. Analyses were performed in order to determine risk factors for adverse events and reasons for readmission and reoperation.

RESULTS

A total of 2511 cases were enrolled. The 30 days unplanned readmission rate to the same hospital was 5.7%. The main reason for readmission was tumor progression. Every 10th patient had an unplanned reoperation. The incidence of surgical revisions due to infections was 2.3%. Taking together all monitored adverse events, male patients had a higher risk for any of these complications (OR 1.236, 95%CI 1.025-1.490, p = 0.027). Age, sex, and histological diagnosis were predictors of experiencing any complication. Adjusted by incidence, the increased risk ratios greater than 10.0% were found for male sex, age, metastatic tumor, and hemiplegia for various quality indicators.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that most predictors of outcome rates are based on preoperative underlying medical conditions and are not modifiable by the surgeon. Comparing our results to the literature, we conclude that differences in readmission and reoperation rates are strongly influenced by standards in decision making and that comparison of outcome rates between different health-care providers on an international basis is challenging. Each health-care system has to develop own metrics for risk adjustment that require regular reassessment.

Readmission following inpatient stereotactic radiosurgery for brain tumors

BACKGROUND

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is indicated for a spectrum of brain tumors and is often an outpatient procedure, though severe disease may precipitate inpatient treatment. Readmission following inpatient SRS for brain tumors is not well understood.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize rate, associative factors, and predictors of SRS readmission.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of inpatients treated with SRS for brain neoplasms was conducted (2010-2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database). Diagnoses upon readmission were characterized. Associations with 30-day readmission were identified using multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Of 2,553 patients undergoing SRS, 390 were readmitted (15.3%) within 30 days. Leading readmission diagnoses were infectious or embolic. Neurological readmissions of intracerebral hemorrhage (2.1%) and cerebral edema (1.5%) were rare. Malignant tumors (OR=1.60, p=0.007) and discharge to facility (OR=1.41, p=0.004) were associated with readmission.

CONCLUSION

Inpatients receiving SRS for brain tumors have a 15.3% 30-day readmission rate. Neurologic readmissions were rare, underscoring the neurological safety of SRS, even in sick inpatients.

Predictors of Venous Thromboembolism After Nonemergent Craniotomy: A Nationwide Readmission Database Analysis

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is responsible for many hospital readmissions each year, particularly among postsurgical cohorts. Because early and indiscriminate VTE prophylaxis carries catastrophic consequences in postcraniotomy cohorts, identifying factors associated with a high risk for thromboembolic complications is important for guiding postoperative management.

OBJECTIVE

To determine VTE incidence in patients undergoing nonemergent craniotomy and to evaluate for factors that predict 30-day and 90-day readmission with VTE.

METHODS

The 2010-2014 cohorts of the Nationwide Readmissions Database were used to generate a large heterogeneous craniotomy sample.

RESULTS

There were 89,450 nonemergent craniotomies that met inclusion criteria. Within 30 days, 1513 patients (1.69%) were readmitted with VTE diagnoses; among them, 678 (44.8%) had a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis alone, 450 (29.7%) had pulmonary embolism alone, and 385 (25.4%) had both. The corresponding 30-day deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism incidences were 1.19% and 0.93%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, several factors were significantly associated with VTE readmission, namely, craniotomy for tumor, corticosteroids, advanced age, greater length of stay, and discharge to institutional care.

CONCLUSIONS

Craniotomies for tumor, corticosteroids, advanced age, prolonged length of stay, and discharge to institutional care are significant predictors of VTE readmission. The implication of steroids, coupled with their ubiquity in neurosurgery, makes them a potentially modifiable risk factor and a prime target for VTE reduction in craniotomy cohorts. Furthermore, the fact that dose is proportional to VTE risk in the literature suggests that careful consideration should be given toward decreasing regimens in situations in which use of a lower dose might prove equally sufficient.

Transitional care services: a quality and safety process improvement program in neurosurgery

OBJECTIVE

Readmissions increasingly serve as a metric of hospital performance, inviting quality improvement initiatives in both medicine and surgery. However, few readmission reduction programs have targeted surgical patient populations. The objective of this study was to establish a transitional care program (TCP) with the goal of decreasing length of stay (LOS), improving discharge efficiency, and reducing readmissions of neurosurgical patients by optimizing patient education and postdischarge surveillance.

METHODS

Patients undergoing elective cranial or spinal neurosurgery performed by one of 5 participating surgeons at a quaternary care hospital were enrolled into a multifaceted intervention. A preadmission overview and establishment of an anticipated discharge date were both intended to set patient expectations for a shorter hospitalization. At discharge, in-hospital prescription filling was provided to facilitate medication compliance. Extended discharge appointments with a neurosurgery TCP-trained nurse emphasized postoperative activity, medications, incisional care, nutrition, signs that merit return to medical attention, and follow-up appointments. Finally, patients received a surveillance phone call 48 hours after discharge. Eligible patients omitted due to staff limitations were selected as controls. Patients were matched by sex, age, and operation type—key confounding variables—with control patients, who were eligible patients treated at the same time period but not enrolled in the TCP due to staff limitation. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated the association of TCP enrollment with discharge time and readmission, and linear regression with LOS. Covariates included matching criteria and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores.

RESULTS

Between 2013 and 2015, 416 patients were enrolled in the program and matched to a control. The median patient age was 55 years (interquartile range 44.5–65 years); 58.4% were male. The majority of enrolled patients underwent spine surgery (59.4%, compared with 40.6% undergoing cranial surgery). Hospitalizations averaged 62.1 hours for TCP patients versus 79.6 hours for controls (a 16.40% reduction, 95% CI 9.30%–23.49%; p < 0.001). The intervention was associated with a higher proportion of morning discharges, which was intended to free beds for afternoon admissions and improve patient flow (OR 3.13, 95% CI 2.27–4.30; p < 0.001), and decreased 30-day readmissions (2.5% vs 5.8%; OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.14–5.27; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

This neurosurgical TCP was associated with a significantly shorter LOS, earlier discharge, and reduced 30-day readmission after elective neurosurgery. These results underscore the importance of patient education and surveillance after hospital discharge.

Reoperation and readmission after clipping of an unruptured intracranial aneurysm: a National Surgical Quality Improvement Program analysis

OBJECTIVE

Although reoperation and readmission have been used as quality metrics, there are limited data evaluating the rate of, reasons for, and predictors of reoperation and readmission after microsurgical clipping of unruptured aneurysms.

METHODS

Adult patients who underwent craniotomy for clipping of an unruptured aneurysm electively were extracted from the prospective National Surgical Quality Improvement Program registry (2011–2014). Multivariable logistic regression and recursive partitioning analysis evaluated the independent predictors of nonroutine hospital discharge, unplanned 30-day reoperation, and readmission. Predictors screened included patient age, sex, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, functional status, aneurysm location, preoperative laboratory values, operative time, and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

Among the 460 patients evaluated, 4.2% underwent any reoperation at a median of 7 days (interquartile range [IQR] 2–17 days) postoperatively, and 1.1% required a cranial reoperation. The most common reoperation was ventricular shunt placement (23.5%); other reoperations were tracheostomy, craniotomy for hematoma evacuation, and decompressive hemicraniectomy. Independent predictors of any unplanned reoperation were age greater than 51 years and longer operative time (p ≤ 0.04). Readmission occurred in 6.3% of patients at a median of 6 days (IQR 5–13 days) after discharge from the surgical hospitalization; 59.1% of patients were readmitted within 1 week and 86.4% within 2 weeks of discharge. The most common reason for readmission was seizure (26.7%); other causes of readmission included hydrocephalus, cerebrovascular accidents, and headache. Unplanned readmission was independently associated with age greater than 65 years, Class II or III obesity (body mass index > 35 kg/m2), preoperative hyponatremia, and preoperative anemia (p ≤ 0.04). Readmission was not associated with operative time, complications during the surgical hospitalization, length of stay, or discharge disposition. Recursive partitioning analysis identified the same 4 variables, as well as ASA classification, as associated with unplanned readmission. The most potent predictors of nonroutine hospital discharge (16.7%) were postoperative neurological and cardiopulmonary complications; other predictors were age greater than 51 years, preoperative hyponatremia, African American and Asian race, and a complex vertebrobasilar circulation aneurysm.

CONCLUSIONS

In this national analysis, patient age greater than 65 years, Class II or III obesity, preoperative hyponatremia, and anemia were associated with adverse events, highlighting patients who may be at risk for complications after clipping of unruptured cerebral aneurysms. The preponderance of early readmissions highlights the importance of early surveillance and follow-up after discharge; the frequency of readmission for seizure emphasizes the need for additional data evaluating the utility and duration of postcraniotomy seizure prophylaxis. Moreover, readmission was primarily associated with preoperative characteristics rather than metrics of perioperative care, suggesting that readmission may be a suboptimal indicator of the quality of care received during the surgical hospitalization in this patient population.

Unplanned readmission within 90 days after pediatric neurosurgery

OBJECTIVE Readmission and return to operating room after surgery are increasingly being used as a proxy for quality of care. Nearly 60% of these readmissions are unplanned, which translates into billions of dollars in health care costs. The authors set out to analyze the incidence of readmission at their center, to define causes of unplanned readmission, and to determine the preoperative and surgical variables associated with readmissions following pediatric neurosurgery. METHODS A total of 536 children who underwent operations for neurosurgical diagnoses between 2012 and 2015 and who were later readmitted were included in the final analysis. Unplanned readmissions were defined to have occurred as a result of complications within 90 days after index surgery. Patient records were retrospectively reviewed to determine the primary diagnosis, surgery indication, and cause of readmission and return to operating room. The cost for index hospitalization, readmission episode, and total cost were derived based on the charges obtained from administrative data. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted. RESULTS Of 536 patients readmitted in total, 17.9% (n = 96) were readmitted within 90 days. Of the overall readmissions, 11.9% (n = 64) were readmitted within 30 days, and 5.97% (n = 32) were readmitted between 31 and 90 days. The median duration between discharge and readmission was 20 days (first quartile [Q1]: 9 days, third quartile [Q3]: 36 days). The most common reason for readmission was shunt related (8.2%, n = 44), followed by wound infection (4.7%, n = 25). In the risk-adjusted multivariable logistic regression model for total 90-day readmission, patients with the following characteristics: younger age (p = 0.001, OR 0.886, 95% CI 0.824-0.952); "other" (nonwhite, nonblack) race (p = 0.024, OR 5.49, 95% CI 1.246-24.2); and those born preterm (p = 0.032, OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-4.12) had higher odds of being readmitted within 90 days after discharge. The total median cost for patients undergoing surgery in this study cohort was $11,520 (Q1: $7103, Q3: $19,264). For the patients who were readmitted, the median cost for a readmission episode was $8981 (Q1: $5051, Q3: $18,713). CONCLUSIONS Unplanned 90-day readmissions in pediatric neurosurgery are primarily due to CSF-related complications. Patients with the following characteristics: young age at presentation; "other" race; and children born preterm have a higher likelihood of being readmitted within 90 days after surgery. The median cost was > $8000, which suggests that the readmission episode can be as expensive as the index hospitalization. Clearly, readmission reduction has the potential for significant cost savings in pediatric neurosurgery. Future efforts, such as targeted education related to complication signs, should be considered in the attempt to reduce unplanned events. Given the single-center, retrospective study design, the results of this study are primarily applicable to this population and cannot necessarily be generalized to other institutions without further study.

Causes and Timing of Unplanned Early Readmission After Neurosurgery

BACKGROUND

Reducing the rate of 30-day hospital readmission has become a priority in healthcare quality improvement policy, with a focus on better characterizing the reasons for unplanned readmission. In neurosurgery, however, peer-reviewed analyses describing the patterns of readmission have been limited in their number and generalizability.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence, timing, and causes of 30-day readmission after neurosurgical procedures.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study from 2009 to 2012 using the Statewide Planning And Research Cooperative System, which collects patient-level details for all admissions and discharges within New York. We identified patients readmitted within 30 days of initial discharge. The rate of, reasons for, and time to readmission were determined overall and within 4 subgroups: craniotomies, cranial surgery without craniotomy, spine, and neuroendovascular procedures.

RESULTS

There were 163 743 index admissions, of whom 14 791 (9.03%) were readmitted. The most common reasons for unplanned readmission were infection (29.52%) and medical complications (19.22%). Median time to readmission was 11 days, with hemorrhagic strokes and seizures occurring earlier, and medical complications and infections occurring later. Readmission rates were highest among patients undergoing cerebrospinal fluid shunt revision and malignant tumor resection (15.57%-22.60%). Spinal decompressions, however, accounted for the largest volume of readmissions (33.13%).

CONCLUSION

Many readmissions may be preventable and occur at predictable time intervals. The causes and timing of readmission vary significantly across neurosurgical subgroups. Future studies should focus on detecting specific complications in select cohorts at predefined time points, which may allow for interventions to lower costs and reduce patient morbidity.

ABBREVIATIONS

CSF, cerebrospinal fluidIQR, interquartile rangeSPARCS, Statewide Planning And Research Cooperative System.

Topical vancomycin to reduce surgical-site infections in neurosurgery: Study protocol for a multi-center, randomized controlled trial

Surgical-site infections (SSIs) account for 20% of all healthcare-associated infections, are the most common nosocomial infection among surgical patients, and are a focus of quality improvement initiatives. Despite implementation of many quality care measures (e.g. prophylactic antibiotics), SSIs remain a significant cause of morbidity, mortality, and economic burden, particularly in the field of neurosurgery. Topical vancomycin is increasingly utilized in instrumented spinal and cardiothoracic procedures, where it has been shown to reduce the risk of SSIs. However, a randomized controlled trial assessing its efficacy in the general neurosurgical population has yet to be done. The principle aim of "Topical Vancomycin for Neurosurgery Wound Prophylaxis" (NCT02284126) is to determine whether prophylactic, topical vancomycin reduces the risk of SSIs in the adult neurosurgical population. This prospective, multicenter, patient-blinded, randomized controlled trial will enroll patients to receive the standard of care plus topical vancomycin, or the standard of care alone. The primary endpoint of this study is a SSI by postoperative day (POD) 30. Patients must be over 18years of age. Patients are excluded for renal insufficiency, vancomycin allergy, and some ineligible procedures. Univariate analysis and logistic regression will determine the effect of topical vancomycin on SSIs at 30days. A randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the efficacy of this treatment. Results of this trial are expected to directly influence the standard of care and prevention of SSIs in neurosurgical patients.

A systematic review of 30-day readmission after cranial neurosurgery

OBJECTIVE

The 30-day readmission rate has emerged as an important marker of the quality of in-hospital care in several fields of medicine. This review aims to summarize available research reporting readmission rates after cranial procedures and to establish an association with demographic, clinical, and system-related factors and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

The authors conducted a systematic review of several databases; a manual search of the Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery, Acta Neurochirurgica, Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences; and the cited references of the selected articles. Quality review was performed using the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) criteria. Findings are reported according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines.

RESULTS

A total of 1344 articles published between 1947 and 2015 were identified; 25 were considered potentially eligible, of which 12 met inclusion criteria. The 30-day readmission rates varied from 6.9% to 23.89%. Complications arising during or after neurosurgical procedures were a prime reason for readmission. Race, comorbidities, and longer hospital stay put patients at risk for readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Although readmission may be an important indicator for good care for the subset of acutely declining patients, neurosurgery should aim to reduce 30-day readmission rates with improved quality of care through systemic changes in the care of neurosurgical patients that promote preventive measures.

Reoperations within 48 hours following 7942 pediatric neurosurgery procedures

OBJECTIVE Various indicators are used to evaluate the quality of care delivered by surgical services, one of which is early reoperation rate. The indications and rate of reoperations within a 48-hour time period have not been previously reported for pediatric neurosurgery. METHODS Between May 1, 2009, and December 30, 2014, 7942 surgeries were performed by the pediatric neurosurgery service in the operating rooms at a single institution. Demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics associated with each of the operations were prospectively collected. The procedures were grouped into 31 categories based on the nature of the procedure and underlying diseases. Reoperations within 48 hours at the conclusion of the index surgery were reviewed to determine whether the reoperation was planned or unplanned. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to analyze risk factors associated with unplanned reoperations. RESULTS Cerebrospinal fluid shunt-and hydrocephalus-related surgeries accounted for 3245 (40.8%) of the 7942 procedures. Spinal procedures, craniotomy for tumor resections, craniotomy for traumatic injury, and craniofacial reconstructions accounted for an additional 8.7%, 6.8%, 4.5%, and 4.5% of surgical volume. There were 221 reoperations within 48 hours of the index surgery, yielding an overall incidence of 2.78%; 159 of the reoperation were unplanned. Of these 159 unplanned reoperations, 121 followed index operations involving shunt manipulations. Using unplanned reoperations as the dependent variable (n = 159), index operations with a starting time after 3 pm and admission through the emergency department (ED) were associated with a two- to threefold increase in the likelihood of reoperations (after-hour surgery, odds ratio [OR] 2.01 [95% CI 1.43-2.83, p < 0.001]; ED admission, OR 1.97 (95% CI 1.32-2.96, p < 0.05]). CONCLUSIONS Approximately 25% of the reoperations within 48 hours of a pediatric neurosurgical procedure were planned. When reoperations were unplanned, contributing factors could be both surgeon related and system related. Further study is required to determine the extent to which these reoperations are preventable. The utility of unplanned reoperation as a quality indicator is dependent on proper definition, analysis, and calculation.

Examination of the Patient and Hospitalization Characteristics of 30-Day SCD Readmissions

OBJECTIVES

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with a high level of emergency department and hospital utilization, as well as a high rate of hospital readmissions. At Johns Hopkins Hospital, as at other institutions, SCD accounts for a large proportion of readmissions. Our study examined patient and hospitalization factors involved in readmissions at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

METHODS

Patients at the Johns Hopkins Sickle Cell Center for Adults with a readmission in fiscal year 2011 were compared with an age- and sex-matched sample of clinic patients for comorbidities, complications, and prior utilization. Hospitalizations that were followed by readmissions were compared with those that were not as to admitting service, length of stay, and average daily opioid dose.

RESULTS

Patients with readmissions had more complications and comorbidities and much higher prior utilization than typical clinic patients, whereas hospitalizations that were followed by readmissions had a longer length of stay but similar opioid doses.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with SCD with a high volume of hospital use, readmissions may be a natural consequence of a high-admission frequency associated with greater disease severity and higher comorbidity.

Quality Indicators in Cranial Neurosurgery: Which Are Presently Substantiated? A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Owing to the rising costs of health care delivery, the quality of delivered care has become a central issue across all medical specialties. Consequently, there is increasing pressure to create standardized frameworks for measuring quality of care. In the field of cranial neurosurgery, health care administrators have begun applying quality measures that are easily available but might be inaccurate in measuring the quality of care.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature review on quality indicators (QIs) that are presently used in this field, aiming to elucidate which QIs are scientifically founded and thus potentially justifiable as measures of quality. We found a total of 8 QIs, and methodologically evaluated published studies according to the AIRE (Appraisal of Indicators through Research and Evaluation) criteria. These criteria include length of hospital stay, all-cause readmission rate, and unplanned reoperation rate.

RESULTS

Our review indicates that these presently used or proposed QIs for neurosurgery lack scientific rigor and are restricted to rudimentary measures, and that further research is necessary.

CONCLUSIONS

Neurosurgeons need to define their own QIs and actively participate in the validation of these QIs to provide the best possible patient outcomes. More reliable clinical registries, obligatory for all neurosurgical services, should be established as a basis for establishing such indicators, with risk adjustment being an important element of any such indicators.

Thirty-Day Readmission Rates Following Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a safe and efficacious surgical intervention for several movement disorders; however, the 30-day all-cause readmission rate associated with this procedure has not previously been documented.

OBJECT: To perform a retrospective cohort study to estimate the 30-day all-cause readmission rate associated with DBS.

METHODS: We reviewed medical records of patients over the age of 18 who underwent DBS surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania between 2009 and 2014. We identified patients who were readmitted to an inpatient medical facility within 30 days from their initial discharge.

RESULTS: Over the study period, 23 (6.6%) of 347 DBS procedures resulted in a readmission to the hospital within 30 days. Causes of readmission were broadly categorized into surgery-related (3.7%): intracranial lead infection (0.6%), battery-site infection (0.6%), intracranial hematoma along the electrode tract (0.6%), battery-site hematoma (0.9%), and seizures (1.2%); and nonsurgery-related (2.9%): altered mental status (1.8%), nonsurgical-site infections (0.6%), malnutrition and poor wound healing (0.3%), and a pulse generator malfunction requiring reprogramming (0.3%). Readmissions could be predicted by the presence of medical comorbidities (P &lt; .001), but not by age, gender, or length of stay (Ps &gt; .15).

CONCLUSION: All-cause 30-day readmission for DBS is 6.6%. This compares favorably to previously studied neurosurgical procedures. Readmissions frequently resulted from surgery-related complications, particularly infection, seizures, and hematomas, and were significantly associated with the presence of medical comorbidities (P &lt; .001).

Analysis of 30-day unplanned readmissions after degenerative spinal disease surgery

Background: Degenerative spinal disease surgery is frequently performed in most neurosurgical departments. Unplanned 30-day readmissions represent a significant economic burden and have been used in several studies as a tool to evaluate quality of patient care.

Objective: To review 30-day unplanned readmission rates after degenerative spinal disease surgery in our department, in order to identify their causes and determine strategies aimed at decreasing their frequency.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients operated in our department for spinal stenosis or disc herniation over a 3 year period (January 2014 – December 2016), evaluating the rate and causes of unplanned readmission in the first month after discharge. Complications were divided in medical and surgical.

Results: Out of the 1106 patients included, 33 (2,98%) presented a 30-day unplanned readmission. The percentage was higher after disc herniation surgery (3,40%), compared to spinal stenosis (1,92%). Pain management was the most common medical cause for readmission (45,45%), while in the surgical group, CSF leaks were the most frequent complication (18,18%).

Conclusions: The rate of 30-day readmissions was low in our series but, even so, they associate significant costs. They could be avoided by applying correct and aseptic surgical technique, proper availability of dural sealing agents and superior patient medical education.

Readmission After Craniotomy for Tumor: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Analysis

BACKGROUND: Although readmission has become a common quality indicator, few national studies have examined this metric in patients undergoing cranial surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To utilize the prospective National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2011-2013 registry to evaluate the predictors of unplanned 30-d readmission and postdischarge mortality after cranial tumor resection.

METHODS: Multivariable logistic regression was applied to screen predictors, which included patient age, sex, tumor location and histology, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, functional status, comorbidities, and complications from the index hospitalization.

RESULTS: Of the 9565 patients included, 10.7% (n = 1026) had an unplanned readmission. Independent predictors of unplanned readmission were male sex, infratentorial location, American Society of Anesthesiologists class 3 designation, dependent functional status, a bleeding disorder, and morbid obesity (all P ≤ .03). Readmission was not associated with operative time, length of hospitalization, discharge disposition, or complications from the index admission. The most common reasons for readmission were surgical site infections (17.0%), infectious complications (11.0%), venous thromboembolism (10.0%), and seizures (9.4%). The 30-d mortality rate was 3.2% (n = 367), of which the majority (69.7%, n = 223) occurred postdischarge. Independent predictors of postdischarge mortality were greater age, metastatic histology, dependent functional status, hypertension, discharge to institutional care, and postdischarge neurological or cardiopulmonary complications (all P &lt; .05).

CONCLUSION: Readmissions were common after cranial tumor resection and often attributable to new postdischarge complications rather than exacerbations of complications from the initial hospitalization. Moreover, the majority of 30-d deaths occurred after discharge from the index hospitalization. The preponderance of postdischarge mortality and complications requiring readmission highlights the importance of posthospitalization management.

Understanding the Relationship Between Physical Therapist Participation in Interdisciplinary Rounds and Hospital Readmission Rates: Preliminary Study

BACKGROUND

Providing patients with optimal discharge disposition and follow-up services could prevent unplanned readmissions. Despite their qualifications, physical therapists are rarely represented on the interdisciplinary team.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the participation of physical therapists in interdisciplinary discharge rounds and readmission rates.

METHODS

In this retrospective observational study, patients discharged by 2 interdisciplinary teams with or without a physical therapist's participation were followed for 5 months. Adherence to the physical therapist's recommendations for follow-up services and unplanned 30-day readmissions were tracked. Multiple logistic regression and random forest models were used to determine factors contributing to 30-day readmission rates.

RESULTS

The odds of 30-day readmissions were 3.78 times greater when a physical therapist was absent from the interdisciplinary team compared with the odds of 30-day readmissions when a physical therapist participated in the interdisciplinary team. In addition, the odds of 30-day readmission for patients discharged to their home were 2.47 times greater than those who were not discharged to their home. An increased lack of postdischarge services was noted when a physical therapist was not included in the interdisciplinary team.

LIMITATIONS

The nonrandom selection of patients into groups, the small sample size, and the inability to adjust risk for unknown factors (eg, medical diagnoses, comorbidities, funding, and functional measures) limited interpretation of the results.

CONCLUSION

Significantly higher readmission rates were noted for patients whose interdisciplinary team did not have a physical therapist and for those patients who were discharged to their home. These preliminary findings suggest that discharge from the acute care setting is an elaborate process and should be designed carefully. In order to identify the optimal discharge process, future research should account for patient complexities in addition to the composition of the interdisciplinary discharge team.

[Incidence and risk factors of 30-day readmission in neurosurgical patients]

AIM

The 30-day readmission rate has become an important indicator of health care quality. This study focuses on the incidence of 30-day readmission in neurosurgical patients and related risk factors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective review was performed on patients treated in a neurosurgery department between 1 January 2012 and the 31 December 2013. Patients requiring readmission within 30 days of discharge and the readmission diagnosis were identified, and the factors related to their readmission were analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 1,854 interventions were carried out on 1,739 patients during the aforementioned (study) period. Of the remaining patients, 174 (10.2%) required readmission within 30 days of discharge. The main causes of readmission were problems related to the surgical wound (21.2% of all readmissions), followed by respiratory processes (18.8%). A total of 73.9% of readmissions occurred in patients who had undergone cranial surgery. Multiple comorbidities estimated by Charlson comorbidity index and length of hospital stay were identified as factors related to a higher readmission rate.

CONCLUSIONS

The 30-day readmission rate observed in our series was 10.2%. Multiple comorbidity expressed by the Charlson comorbidity index and length of hospital stay were related to readmission.

Predictors of 30-day readmission after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE Despite persisting questions regarding its appropriateness, 30-day readmission is an increasingly common quality metric used to influence hospital compensation in the United States. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to identify which patients are at highest risk for readmission after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The objective of this study was to identify predictors of 30-day readmission after SAH, to focus preventative efforts, and to provide guidance to funding agencies seeking to risk-adjust comparisons among hospitals. METHODS The authors performed a case-control study of 30-day readmission among aneurysmal SAH patients treated at a single center between 2003 and 2013. To control for geographic distance from the hospital and year of treatment, the authors randomly matched each case (30-day readmission) with approximately 2 SAH controls (no readmission) based on home ZIP code and treatment year. They evaluated variables related to patient demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, comorbidities, presentation severity (e.g., Hunt and Hess grade), and clinical course (e.g., need for gastrostomy or tracheostomy, length of stay). Conditional logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors, accounting for the matched design of the study. RESULTS Among 82 SAH patients with unplanned 30-day readmission, the authors matched 78 patients with 153 nonreadmitted controls. Age, demographics, and socioeconomic factors were not associated with readmission. In univariate analysis, multiple variables were significantly associated with readmission, including Hunt and Hess grade (OR 3.0 for Grade IV/V vs I/II), need for gastrostomy placement (OR 2.0), length of hospital stay (OR 1.03 per day), discharge disposition (OR 3.2 for skilled nursing vs other disposition), and Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR 2.3 for score ≥ 2 vs 0). However, the only significant predictor in the multivariate analysis was discharge to a skilled nursing facility (OR 3.2), and the final model was sensitive to criteria used to enter and retain variables. Furthermore, despite the significant association between discharge disposition and readmission, less than 25% of readmitted patients were discharged to a skilled nursing facility. CONCLUSIONS Although discharge disposition remained significant in multivariate analysis, most routinely collected variables appeared to be weak independent predictors of 30-day readmission after SAH. Consequently, hospitals interested in decreasing readmission rates may consider multifaceted, cost-efficient interventions that can be broadly applied to most if not all SAH patients.

Delayed Hyponatremia Is the Most Common Cause of 30-Day Unplanned Readmission After Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Tumors

BACKGROUND

Unplanned readmission after surgical procedures is an important quality metric. Yet, readmission rates and causes have not been evaluated for patients after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumors.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze unplanned 30-day readmissions at a pituitary center and to encourage the development of effective clinical pathways to prevent readmission.

METHODS

A retrospective review of adult patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary lesions at Barrow Neurological Institute (January 2011-March 2014) was performed to identify causes of unplanned readmission within 30 days of surgery. Patient demographics, tumor details, surgical complications, and endocrine function were documented.

RESULTS

Of 303 patients who had transsphenoidal surgery, 27 (8.9%) were readmitted within 30 days. Most of the 27 (15 [55.6%]) had delayed hyponatremia. Other causes were diabetes insipidus (4 [14.8%]), adrenal insufficiency (2 [7.4%]), and cerebrospinal fluid leak, epistaxis, cardiac arrhythmia, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and hypoglycemia (1 each [3.7%]). Outpatient sodium screening was performed as needed. In cases of hyponatremia, the mean postoperative day of readmission was day 8 (range, 6-12 days) and the mean serum sodium was 119 mmol/L (range, 111-129 mmol/L). Numerous patient and surgical factors were examined, and no specific predictors of readmission were identified. We developed an outpatient care pathway for managing hyponatremia with the goal of improving readmission rates.

CONCLUSION

This study establishes a quality benchmark for readmission rates after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary lesions and identifies delayed hyponatremia as the primary cause. Implementation of an outpatient care pathway for managing hyponatremia may improve readmission rates.

Causes of 30-day readmission after neurosurgery of the spine

OBJECT

Thirty-day readmission has been cited as an important indicator of the quality of care in several fields of medicine. The aim of this systematic review was to examine rate of readmission and factors relevant to readmission after neurosurgery of the spine.

METHODS

The authors carried out a systematic review using several databases, searches of cited reference lists, and a manual search of the JNS Publishing Group journals (Journal of Neurosurgery; Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine; Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics; and Neurosurgical Focus), Neurosurgery, Acta Neurochirurgica, and Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. A quality review was performed using STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) criteria and reported according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines.

RESULTS

A systematic review of 1136 records published between 1947 and 2014 revealed 31 potentially eligible studies, and 5 studies met inclusion criteria for content and quality. Readmission rates varied from 2.54% to 14.7%. Sequelae that could be traced back to complications that arose during neurosurgery of the spine were a prime reason for readmission after discharge. Increasing age, poor physical status, and comorbid illnesses were also important risk factors for 30-day readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Readmission rates have predictable factors that can be addressed. Strategies to reduce readmission that relate to patient-centered factors, complication avoidance during neurosurgery, standardization with system-wide protocols, and moving toward a culture of nonpunitive system-wide error and “near miss” investigations and quality improvement are discussed.

Length of hospital stay after craniotomy for tumor: a National Surgical Quality Improvement Program analysis

OBJECT

Although the length of hospital stay is often used as a measure of quality of care, data evaluating the predictors of extended hospital stay after craniotomy for tumor are limited. The goals of this study were to use multivariate regression to examine which preoperative characteristics and postoperative complications predict a prolonged hospital stay and to assess the impact of length of stay on unplanned hospital readmission.

METHODS

Data were extracted from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database from 2007 to 2013. Patients who underwent craniotomy for resection of a brain tumor were included. Stratification was based on length of hospital stay, which was dichotomized by the upper quartile of the interquartile range (IQR) for the entire population. Covariates included patient age, sex, race, tumor histology, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, functional status, preoperative laboratory values, preoperative neurological deficits, operative time, and postoperative complications. Multivariate logistic regression with forward prediction was used to evaluate independent predictors of extended hospitalization. Thereafter, hierarchical multivariate logistic regression assessed the impact of length of stay on unplanned readmission.

RESULTS

The study included 11,510 patients. The median hospital stay was 4 days (IQR 3-8 days), and 27.7% (n = 3185) had a hospital stay of at least 8 days. Independent predictors of extended hospital stay included age greater than 70 years (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.28%-1.83%, p < 0.001); African American (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.44%-2.14%, p < 0.001) and Hispanic (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.36%-2.08%) race or ethnicity; ASA class 3 (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.34%-1.73%) or 4-5 (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.82%-2.62%) designation; partially (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.61%-2.35%) or totally dependent (OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.95%-5.55%) functional status; insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.16%-1.84%); hematological comorbidities (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.25%-2.24%); and preoperative hypoalbuminemia (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.51%-2.09%, all p ≤ 0.009). Several postoperative complications were additional independent predictors of prolonged hospitalization including pulmonary emboli (OR 13.75, 95% CI 4.73%-39.99%), pneumonia (OR 5.40, 95% CI 2.89%-10.07%), and urinary tract infections (OR 11.87, 95% CI 7.09%-19.87%, all p < 0.001). The C-statistic of the model based on preoperative characteristics was 0.79, which increased to 0.83 after the addition of postoperative complications. A length of stay after craniotomy for tumor score was created based on preoperative factors significant in regression models, with a moderate correlation with length of stay (p = 0.43, p < 0.001). Extended hospital stay was not associated with differential odds of an unplanned hospital readmission (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.89%-1.06%, p = 0.55).

CONCLUSIONS

In this NSQIP analysis that evaluated patients who underwent craniotomy for tumor, much of the variance in hospital stay was attributable to baseline patient characteristics, suggesting length of stay may be an imperfect proxy for quality. Additionally, longer hospitalizations were not found to be associated with differential rates of unplanned readmission.

Preoperative chemotherapy and corticosteroids: independent predictors of cranial surgical-site infections

OBJECT Preoperative corticosteroids and chemotherapy are frequently prescribed for patients undergoing cranial neurosurgery but may pose a risk of postoperative infection. Postoperative surgical-site infections (SSIs) have significant morbidity and mortality, dramatically increase the length and cost of hospitalization, and are a major cause of 30-day readmission. In patients undergoing cranial neurosurgery, there is a lack of data on the role of patient-specific risk factors in the development of SSIs. The authors of this study sought to determine whether chemotherapy and prolonged steroid use before surgery increase the risk of an SSI at postoperative Day 30. METHODS Using the national prospectively collected American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database for 2006-2012, the authors calculated the rates of superficial, deep-incisional, and organ-space SSIs at postoperative Day 30 for neurosurgery patients who had undergone chemotherapy or had significant steroid use within 30 days before undergoing cranial surgery. Trauma patients, patients younger than 18 years, and patients with a preoperative infection were excluded. Univariate analysis was performed for 25 variables considered risk factors for superficial and organ-space SSIs. To identify independent predictors of SSIs, the authors then conducted a multivariate analysis in which they controlled for duration of operation, wound class, white blood cell count, and other potential confounders that were significant on the univariate analysis. RESULTS A total of 8215 patients who had undergone cranial surgery were identified. There were 158 SSIs at 30 days (frequency 1.92%), of which 52 were superficial, 27 were deep-incisional, and 79 were organ-space infections. Preoperative chemotherapy was an independent predictor of organ-space SSIs in the multivariate model (OR 5.20, 95% CI 2.33-11.62, p < 0.0001), as was corticosteroid use (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.03-3.37, p = 0.04), but neither was a predictor of superficial or deep-incisional SSIs. Other independent predictors of organ-space SSIs were longer duration of operation (OR 1.16), wound class of ≥ 2 (clean-contaminated and further contaminated) (OR 3.17), and morbid obesity (body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m(2)) (OR 3.05). Among superficial SSIs, wound class of 3 (contaminated) (OR 6.89), operative duration (OR 1.13), and infratentorial surgical approach (OR 2.20) were predictors. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative chemotherapy and corticosteroid use are independent predictors of organ-space SSIs, even when data are controlled for leukopenia. This indicates that the disease process in organ-space SSIs may differ from that in superficial SSIs. In effect, this study provides one of the largest analyses of risk factors for SSIs after cranial surgery. The results suggest that, in certain circumstances, modulation of preoperative chemotherapy or steroid regimens may reduce the risk of organ-space SSIs and should be considered in the preoperative care of this population. Future studies are needed to determine optimal timing and dosing of these medications.

Causes of 30-day readmission after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

Hospital readmission is a common but controversial quality measure increasingly used to influence hospital compensation in the US. The objective of this study was to evaluate the causes for 30-day hospital readmission following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) to determine the appropriateness of this performance metric and to identify potential avenues for improved patient care.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who received surgical or endovascular treatment for aneurysmal SAH at Barnes-Jewish Hospital between 2003 and 2013. Two senior faculty identified by consensus the primary medical/surgical diagnosis associated with readmission as well as the underlying causes of rehospitalization.

RESULTS

Among 778 patients treated for aneurysmal SAH, 89 experienced a total of 97 readmission events, yielding a readmission rate of 11.4%. The median time from discharge to readmission was 9 days (interquartile range 3-17.5 days). Actual hydrocephalus or potential concern for hydrocephalus (e.g., headache) was the most frequent diagnosis (26/97, 26.8%), followed by infections (e.g., wound infection [5/97, 5.2%], urinary tract infection [3/97, 3.1%], and pneumonia [3/97, 3.1%]) and thromboembolic events (8/97, 8.2%). In most cases (75/97, 77.3%), we did not identify any treatment lapses contributing to readmission. The most common underlying causes for readmission were unavoidable development of SAH-related pathology (e.g., hydrocephalus; 36/97, 37.1%) and complications related to neurological impairment and immobility (e.g., thromboembolic event despite high-dose chemoprophylaxis; 21/97, 21.6%). The authors determined that 22/97 (22.7%) of the readmissions were likely preventable with alternative management. In these cases, insufficient outpatient medical care (for example, for hyponatremia; 16/97, 16.5%) was the most common shortcoming.

CONCLUSIONS

Most readmissions after aneurysmal SAH relate to late consequences of hemorrhage, such as hydrocephalus, or medical complications secondary to severe neurological injury. Although a minority of readmissions may potentially be avoided with closer medical follow-up in the transitional care environment, readmission after SAH is an insensitive and likely inappropriate hospital performance metric.