Risk factors associated with prolonged postoperative length of stay of patients with gastric cancer

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the risk factors of prolonged postoperative length of stay (LOS) in patients with gastric cancer. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 2033 patients who underwent curative surgery in Department of Pancreatic-gastric, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Eightieth percentile of postoperative hospital stay for all patients was taken as the cutoff, the patients were divided into the normal group (1 532 patients) and the extended group (501 patients). Logistic regression model was used to determine the risk factors related to prolonged postoperative LOS in gastric cancer. Results: A total of 417 cases with postoperative complications were recruited in extended group. The five highest complications accounting for prolonged LOS were: abdominal infection in 69 cases (13.77%), pleural effusion in 60 cases (11.98%), anastomotic leakage in 43 cases (8.58%), poor wound healing in 34 cases (6.79%), and bleeding in 25 cases (4.99%). Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR=1.348, P=0.013), surgical procedure (OR=2.712, P<0.001), extent of resection (OR=2.035, P<0.001), degree of incision healing(OR=4.867, P<0.001), and perioperative blood transfusion (OR=1.711, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for prolonged postoperative LOS. Conclusions: The most common complication associated with prolonged postoperative LOS for gastric cancer patients is abdominal infection. Age, surgical procedure, extent of resection, degree of incision healing, and perioperative blood transfusion are the independent risk factors for prolonged postoperative LOS.