Affiliation:
1. University of North Carolina School of Medicine Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
2. Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Thomas Jefferson Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
3. Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundOtolaryngology patients are a high‐readmission‐risk group due to the complexity of surgeries, significant alterations to speech and swallowing functions, and high postoperative complications risk.MethodsA retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent otolaryngologic surgery at a single‐academic‐institution between March 2019 and February 2020.ResultsAmong 365 discharges, 21 patients had unplanned readmissions within 30 days. On univariable analysis, acute myocardial infarction, number of total comorbidities, prior chemotherapy/radiation, active smoking, airway surgery, and enteral feeding, and on multivariable analysis, prior chemotherapy/radiation and active smoking were identified as significant readmission risk factors. Readmission risk increased from 2.43% to 7.48% and 41.67% with the addition of each risk factor.ConclusionNearly 75% of the readmissions were due to potentially preventable reasons. By identifying and proactively intervening on “at risk” patients during the perioperative timeframe, complications and readmission can be reduced, thereby improving the overall quality of care delivered.