title: Postoperative stay following colorectal surgery: a study of factors associated with prolonged hospital stay.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the factors that contribute to postoperative stay following colorectal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three colorectal surgical units - a teaching hospital, a large district general hospital and a district general hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  350 patients undergoing colorectal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  28 pre-, peri- and postoperative patient- and treatment-related factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stepwise regression analysis suggests that the factors that significantly lengthen postoperative stay include a low albumin on admission, stoma formation, operative blood loss, urinary and respiratory complications, wound infections, postoperative ventilation and social delay at the time of discharge. The postoperative stay was not affected by patient age or by the seniority of the surgical team.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors have been identified that determine the postoperative length of stay. These data may allow better planning and treatment of patients undergoing colorectal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St George's Hospital, London, UK. marcusreddy@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: C E R
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Palazzo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conaghan
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Blunt
authors.forename: W S L
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Stebbings
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Leicester
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Cullen
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D003125:Colostomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000150:complications; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000150:complications