Characterizing Readmissions After Bariatric Surgery.
Readmissions are an important quality metric for surgery. Here, we compare characteristics of readmissions across laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB), sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), and adjustable gastric band (LAGB).



Demographic, intraoperative, anthropometric, and laboratory data were prospectively obtained for 1775 patients at a single academic institution. All instances of readmissions within 1 year were recorded. Data were analyzed using STATA, release 12.



For the 1775 patients, 113 (6.37 %) were readmitted. Mean time to readmission was 52.1 days. Of all the readmissions, 64.6 % were within 30 days, 22.1 % from 30 to 90 days, 1.77 % from 90 to 180 days, and 11.5 % from 180 to 365 days. Incidence of 30-day readmissions varied across surgeries (LRYGB: 7.17 %; LAGB: 3.05 %; LSG: 4.25 %, p = 0.04). Time to readmission varied as well, with 90.0 % of LSG and 80.0 % of LABG patients within the first 30 days, versus 60.8 % of LRYGB (p = 0.02). The most common causes of readmissions were gastrointestinal issues related to index procedure (34.5 %) and did not vary across surgeries. In multivariable logistic regression, index hospital length of stay (LOS) was associated with readmission (OR = 1.07, 95 % CI 1.02-1.13, p = 0.01).



Readmissions after bariatric surgery are associated with high index hospital LOS, and a measureable proportion of procedure-related readmissions can occur up to 1 year, especially for LRYGB.
Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, USA.
Trit
T
Garg
Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, USA.
Ulysses
U
Rosas
Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, USA.
Daniel
D
Rogan
Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, USA.
Harrison
H
Hines
Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, USA.
Homero
H
Rivas
Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, USA. morton@stanford.edu.|, 300 Pasteur Drive, H3680, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. morton@stanford.edu.
John M
JM
Morton
Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, USA.
Dan
D
Azagury
D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015391:Gastroplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Bariatric surgery; Obesity; Readmissions