Bariatric operations in Veterans Affairs and selected university medical centers: results of the patient safety in surgery study.
BACKGROUND
The objectives of this study were to evaluate outcomes and predictors of morbidity in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) during the Patient Safety in Surgery (PSS) Study.


METHODS
National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data on PSS patients undergoing RYGB were analyzed for unadjusted and adjusted outcomes. Gender groups acted differently and were analyzed separately. Multivariable regression modeling was used to analyze hospital type as a predictor of risk. Stepwise logistic regression was performed to determine patient factors predictive of postoperative morbidity.


RESULTS
A total of 2,438 patients (2,064 private sector [PS], 374 Veterans Affairs [VA]) were identified for analysis. Adjusted odds ratio for postoperative morbidity for VA versus PS female patients was 1.14 (95% CI, 0.63-2.05), and for male patients 2.29 (95% CI, 1.28-4.10). Stepwise logistic regression showed that independent risk factors predictive of morbidity were open procedure, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists class, higher body mass index, diabetes, alcohol consumption, leukocytosis, SGOT > 40 U/L, smoking history, and older age. Importantly, male gender was not significant (p = 0.13) in the regression analysis. Subsequent and unrelated to this study, the VA has restructured its bariatric surgical program, including regionalization of centers, with a substantial lowering of associated mortality and morbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
The VA male subset showed higher risk-adjusted postoperative morbidity compared with the PS male subset. The VA and PS female subsets had equivalent risk-adjusted postoperative morbidity. A systematic approach to quality-improvement processes resulted in improved bariatric surgical outcomes in the VA. Male gender might not be an independent risk factor in RYGB patients.
Lautz
David B
DB
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. dlautz@partners.org
Jackson
Timothy D
TD
Clancy
Kerri A
KA
Escareno
Cesar E
CE
Schifftner
Tracy
T
Henderson
William G
WG
Livingston
Edward
E
Rogers
Selwyn O
SO
Khuri
Shukri
S
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome