Minimizing Risks in Minimally Invasive Surgery: Rates of Surgical Site Infection Across Subtypes of Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

Abstract

To compare the 30-day incidence of deep or organ-space and/or superficial incisional surgical site infections (SSIs) by the subtype of laparoscopic hysterectomy and to report on additional risk factors for SSIs following laparoscopic hysterectomy. Retrospective cohort study. American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database. Women undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy from 2012 to 2014. Women were stratified into 3 groups by the type of hysterectomy: total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), and laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSCH). Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared for the 3 groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test or 1-way analysis of variance, where appropriate, for continuous variables and the chi-square or Fisher's exact test for categoric variables. Post hoc analyses were performed for multiple comparisons. Univariate analyses to examine the association with SSI were performed using the t test or Wilcoxon rank sum test as appropriate for continuous variables and the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate for categoric variables. Significant variables on univariate analysis were included in a stepwise, backward multivariable logistic regression to identify the independent risk factors of SSI. In total, 46 755 women underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy. Most were classified as TLH (26 009, 56%), followed by LAVH (13 884, 30%), and LSCH (6862, 14%). The overall rate of 30-day deep or organ-space SSI was 1.8% (n = 445). Thirty-day deep or organ-space SSI was lower in women who underwent LSCH (0.6%) than in women who underwent TLH (1.0%) or LAVH (1.1%; p = .001), but there was no difference in the incidence of superficial incisional SSI (0.8%, 0.8%, and 0.8% for TLH, LAVH, and LSCH, respectively; p = .75). On multivariate regression analysis, LSCH remained independently associated with a decreased risk of deep or organ-space SSI (adjusted odds ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.43-0.84; p = .003). In addition, relative to the women who were discharged on the same day, women admitted for >24 hours had 2-fold increased odds of deep or organ-space SSI. Asian race, smoking, perioperative transfusion, dirty or infected cases, and American Society of Anesthesiologist class 3 were associated with increased odds for deep or organ-space SSI. Length of stay >24 hours and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander race were associated with increased odds of superficial incisional SSI. LSCH is associated with a decreased risk of deep or organ-space SSI compared with other subtypes of laparoscopic hysterectomy. Same-day discharge after laparoscopic hysterectomy is associated with decreased odds of SSI.