title: Predictors of length of stay following colorectal resection for neoplasms in 183 Veterans Affairs patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is increasing pressure to reduce the length of stay in hospital (LOS) after colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to identify factors that prolong LOS after colorectal surgery in a population of veterans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis was performed of all patients undergoing colorectal resection for a neoplasm at a single Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital (2002-2007). Data collected included demographics, co-morbidities, operative management, postoperative morbidity and mortality, nutritional status, and LOS. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 186 patients were identified. Three patients had an LOS of more than 100 days and were omitted from the analysis. The median LOS was 8 days. Multivariate analysis showed only two variables: coronary artery disease (CAD) and postoperative complications were predictive of prolonged LOS. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was the only preoperative morbidity predictive of complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The aim of this study was to identify factors that prolong LOS after colorectal surgery in a VA population. We found that CAD and postoperative complications were the only variables predictive of prolonged LOS after colorectal resection, and COPD was the only factor predictive of postoperative complications.
authors: Department of Surgery, Medical College of Virginia Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980011, Richmond, VA, 23298-0568, USA. amleung@vcu.edu
authors: Anna M
authors: AM
authors: Leung
authors: R L
authors: RL
authors: Gibbons
authors: Huan N
authors: HN
authors: Vu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003082:Colectomy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors