title: A 5 year analysis of readmissions after radical subtotal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many patients and surgeons have become interested in the quality of life after surgery for early gastric cancer. However, no reports on readmission rates for gastrectomy patients have been published, even if readmission greatly affects the patient's quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 530 consecutive early gastric cancer patients who underwent radical subtotal gastrectomy, we determined the incidence, cause, timing, type of treatment, and risk factors for readmission after discharge, and compared the readmission and nonreadmission groups with respect to clinicopathologic features and postoperative outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, the 5 year and 1 month readmission rates after radical subtotal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer were 13.0% (69 of 530) and 7.5% (40 of 530), respectively. The most common cause for readmission was delayed gastric emptying (17 cases). Among a total of 82 readmissions, 34 patients (41.5%) were readmitted within 2 weeks of surgery. The type of treatment for 82 readmissions included 55 conservative therapies, 15 radiologic or endoscopic interventions, and 12 repeat laparotomies. No significant differences were detected in the clinicopathologic feature and postoperative outcomes between the two groups. The initial hospital stay remained significantly associated with readmission based on multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Readmission rate at 1 month after radical subtotal gastrectomy is lower than that after major bowel surgery. Unusual postoperative recovery in a patient with vague symptoms should be managed with greater care before discharge. After subtotal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer, prevention of readmission can improve the patient's quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. mckim@donga.ac.kr
authors.forename: Min-Chan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki-Han
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ghap-Joong
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors