Patient, treatment and discharge factors associated with hospital readmission within 30 days after surgery for vulvar cancer

Objectives. The majority of hospital readmissions are unexpected and considered adverse events. The goal of this study was to examine the factors associated with unplanned readmission after surgery for vulvar cancer. Methods. Patient demographic, treatment, and discharge factors were collected on 363 patients with squamous cell carcinoma in situ or invasive cancer who underwent vulvectomy at our institution between January 2001 and June 2014. Clinical variables were correlated using chi(2) test and Student's t-test as appropriate for univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis was then performed. Results. Of 363 eligible patients, 35.6% had in situ disease and 64.5% had invasive disease. Radical vulvectomy was performed in 39.1% and 23.4% underwent lymph node assessment. Seventeen patients (4.7%) were readmitted within 30 days, with length of stay ranging 2 to 37 days and 35% of these patients required a re-operation. On univariate analyses comorbidities, radical vulvectomy, nodal assessment, initial length of stay, and discharge to a post acute care facility (PACF) were associated with hospital readmission. On multivariate analysis, only discharge to a PACF was significantly associated with readmission (OR 6.30, CI 1.12-35.53, P = 0.04). Of those who were readmitted within 30 days, 29.4% had been at a PACF whereas only 6.6% of the no readmission group had been discharged to PACF (P = 0.003). Conclusions. Readmission affected 4.7% of our population, and was associated with lengthy hospitalization and reoperation. After controlling for patient comorbidities and surgical radicality, multivariate analysis suggested that discharge to a PACF was significantly associated with risk of readmission. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.