title: Readmissions following elective radical total gastrectomy for early gastric cancer: a case-controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Readmission after gastrectomy is one of the factors that reflect quality of life. Therefore, we analyzed the several factors related to readmissions after total gastrectomy for early gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2002 through December 2009, 102 consecutive patients who underwent radical total gastrectomy for early gastric cancer were enrolled in this study. We evaluated the incidence, cause, time point, and type of treatment for readmission after discharge; we compared the readmission and non-readmission groups in regard to clinicopathologic features and postoperative outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The readmission rate during the five years after total gastrectomy was 22 of 102 (21.6%). The most common cause for readmission was esophagojejunostomy stricture (5 cases). The treatment given for 31 readmissions included 23 conservative therapies, 3 radiologic or endoscopic interventions, and 5 re-operations. No significant differences were detected in the clinicopathologic feature, postoperative outcomes, or 5-year survival rates between the readmission and non-readmission group. No specific risk factor was found to be associated with readmission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although we could not determine a specific risk factor associated with readmission after radical total gastrectomy, prevention of readmission by evaluating the causes and treatments after radical total gastrectomy can improve the patient's quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan 602-715, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Deok
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan 602-715, Republic of Korea; Department of Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan 602-715, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: mckim@donga.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Min-Chan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan 602-715, Republic of Korea; Department of Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan 602-715, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Han
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan 602-715, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoo-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan 602-715, Republic of Korea; Department of Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan 602-715, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ghap-Joong
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Gastric cancer; Hospital stay; Readmission; Total gastrectomy