title: Factors influencing postoperative length of hospital stay after breast cancer surgery.
abstract: As part of a feasibility study to restructure the breast cancer services in Glasgow, factors influencing 'postoperative length of stay' (LOS) and bed utilisation in patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer were examined. Data for patients admitted at five hospitals between March 2007 and February 2008 was collected prospectively. Age, socio-demographic and clinico-pathologic factors were recorded. Independent affects of variables predicting prolonged LOS were assessed using binary logistic regression analysis. Of the 519 women, 252(49%) had screen-detected cancers with a median LOS of 1 day while 267(51%) had symptomatic cancers with a median LOS of 4 days (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, axillary procedure performed independently influenced prolonged LOS in both screen-detected and symptomatic cancers. In symptomatic cancers, comorbidities and deprivation also had some influence. While mastectomy with or without axillary surgery utilised 51% of the bed days, a further 20% were utilised by patients having re-operations. This study has helped in the planning of ambulatory surgery services and inpatient bed requirements for patients undergoing breast cancer surgery in Glasgow.
authors: University Department of Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK. sekhar.marla@gmail.com
authors: Sekhar
authors: S
authors: Marla
authors: D C
authors: DC
authors: McMillan
authors: Sheila
authors: S
authors: Stallard
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012086:Reoperation; D012606:Scotland; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D047368:Tumor Burden