Journal of vascular surgery
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Comparative Study
Comparison of risk factors for length of stay and readmission following lower extremity bypass surgery.
Recent initiatives to improve health care quality have focused attention on length of stay (LOS) and readmission rates for surgical patients, yet these two outcomes may be inversely related. This study was designed to elucidate the risk factors for both outcomes and to clarify the relationship between them in patients undergoing lower extremity bypass (LEB). ⋯ In patients undergoing LEB, LOS is primarily associated with the occurrence of postoperative complications, whereas 30-day readmission is largely explained by underlying patient illness. Additionally, increased LOS is an independent risk factor for readmission. These findings suggest that efforts to reduce both LOS and readmission will be complementary. Furthermore, they support the notion that both LOS and 30-day readmission rates should be risk-adjusted.