Significant Predictor Of Length Of Stay Research Articles

Neighborhood socioeconomic status and length of stay after congenital heart disease surgery.

Socioeconomic factors are associated with health outcomes and can affect postoperative length of stay after congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery. The hypothesis of this study is that patients from neighborhoods with a disadvantaged socioeconomic status (SES) have a prolonged length of hospital stay after CHD surgery. Pre- and postoperative data were collected on patients who underwent CHD surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center between 2011 and 2019. A neighborhood SES score was calculated for each patient using data from the United States Census Bureau and patients were grouped by high vs. low SES neighborhoods. The difference of patient length of stay (LOS) from the Society for Thoracic Surgeons median LOS for that surgery was the primary outcome measure. Linear regression was performed to examine the association between the difference from the median LOS and SES, as well as other third variables. The difference from the median LOS was -4.8 vs. -2.2 days in high vs. low SES groups (p = 0.003). SES category was a significant predictor of LOS in unadjusted and adjusted regression analyses. There was a significant interaction between Norwood operation and SES-patients with a low neighborhood SES who underwent Norwood operation had a longer LOS, but there was no difference in LOS by SES in patients who underwent other operations. Neighborhood SES is a significant predictor of the LOS after congenital heart disease surgery. This effect was seen primarily in patients undergoing Norwood operation.

Predictors of length of stay for simple gastroschisis: analysis of ACS NSQIP-P database.

We aimed to assess predictors of length of stay for simple gastroschisis utilizing the NSQIP-Pediatric Database. The NSQIP-P Participant Use Data File was queried to identify patients with simple gastroschisis. We defined short length of stay (LOS) as patients discharged home ≤ 30days from birth. We compared patients with short LOS versus prolonged LOS > 30days. Predictors and outcomes were evaluated. There were 888 patients with simple gastroschisis identified. Half of patients had LOS ≤ 30days. Patients with LOS ≤ 30 were younger at repair (median age 1day vs. 3days, p = 0.0001), had higher birth weight (median 2.5kg vs. 2.4kg, p = 0.0001), and were less premature (37week vs. 36weeks, p = 0.0001). However, only gestational age and weight at birth were significant predictors of LOS on multivariate analysis (p = 0.0001). Prolonged LOS patients had more instances of ventilation, oxygen supplementation, sepsis (n = 2/446 or 0.4% vs. n = 9/442 or 2%, p = 0.003), bleeding/transfusion (n = 7/446 or 1.6% vs. n = 43/442 or 9.7%, p = 0.0001), line infections (n = 1/446 or 0.2% vs. n = 12/442, p = 0.001), and reoperations (n = 9/446 or 2% vs. n = 26/442 or 5.9%, p = 0.003). Prematurity and birth weight are significant predictors of length of stay in simple gastroschisis patients. Prenatal counseling should continue to be one of the main factors to improve the outcomes for patients with gastroschisis. Type of study Retrospective cohort study. Level of evidence Level IV.

Demographic Characteristics, Comorbidities, and Length of Stay of COVID-19 Patients Admitted Into Intensive Care Units in Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Retrospective Study

BackgroundThis study aimed to describe the demographic characteristics and determine the risk factors associated with disease severity and length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay in a cohort of COVID-19 patients admitted into ICU in Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis was a national, multi-center, retrospective cross-sectional study of all COVID-19 cases admitted into different ICUs in Saudi Arabia between March 2020 and September 202l. Demographic, clinical features, comorbidities, and length of stay (LOS) data were retrieved from the national Health Electronic Surveillance Network (HESN) and Taqassi databases at the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) for subsequent analyses. We used multiple linear regression models to determine risk factors associated with critical outcomes (including LOS in ICU) among COVID-19 cases.ResultsA total of 12,436 COVID-19 patients were included in this study, with a mean age of 59.57 ± 18.30 years and 7,679 (62%) were <65 years old. COVID-19 was more common in males (N = 7,686, 61.9%) and Saudi nationals (N = 8,516, 68.5%). The clinical characteristic findings showed that 36.3% of patients required invasive ventilation whilst 65.4% received tracheostomies for ventilation, and 4% were on dialysis. Our analysis revealed that 2,978 (23.9%) patients had one comorbidity, 4,977 (47.4%) had two or more comorbidities, and diabetes (48.2%) was the most prevalent comorbidity, followed by hypertension (44.2%), and chronic cardiovascular disease (10.5%). Thirteen variables emerged as significant predictors of LOS in ICU using multiple linear regression analyses, with invasive ventilation as the strongest predictor of LOS in the ICU (beta = −0.68, p = 0.001) and hospital admission (beta = −0.65, p = 0.001).ConclusionsCOVID-19 continues to affect millions of people around the world, with a mortality rate of about 2–3% of all infected patients. Our analysis revealed that comorbidities such as chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and older age were significant risk factors associated with a poorer prognosis and longer duration of stay in hospitals and ICU.

MP39-09 COMPARISON OF ALVIMOPAN VERSUS NALOXEGOL FOR ENHANCING POSTOPERATIVE RECOVERY FOLLOWING RADICAL CYSTECTOMY FOR BLADDER CANCER

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 May 2022MP39-09 COMPARISON OF ALVIMOPAN VERSUS NALOXEGOL FOR ENHANCING POSTOPERATIVE RECOVERY FOLLOWING RADICAL CYSTECTOMY FOR BLADDER CANCER Peter Kirk, Austin Wang, Dima Raskolnikov, Sarah Psutka, George Schade, John Gore, Yaw Nyame, Janet Kelly, and Jonathan Wright Peter KirkPeter Kirk More articles by this author , Austin WangAustin Wang More articles by this author , Dima RaskolnikovDima Raskolnikov More articles by this author , Sarah PsutkaSarah Psutka More articles by this author , George SchadeGeorge Schade More articles by this author , John GoreJohn Gore More articles by this author , Yaw NyameYaw Nyame More articles by this author , Janet KellyJanet Kelly More articles by this author , and Jonathan WrightJonathan Wright More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002599.09AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Opioid-receptor antagonists reduce the occurrence of postoperative ileus and shorten length of stay following radical cystectomy (RC), and are a standard component of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways. Although most prior data have studied the use of alvimopan for this indication, naloxegol is a less expensive alternative within the same medication class. We compared differences in postoperative outcomes between patients receiving alvimopan and naloxegol following RC. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing RC (open and robotic) and urinary diversion for bladder cancer at an urban, academic cancer center during which the standard practice transitioned from alvimopan to naloxegol without any other changes to our ERAS pathway (November 2019 through July 2021). We utilized bivariate comparisons as well as negative binomial and logistic regression to compare return of bowel function, rates of ileus, and length of stay (LOS) following RC. RESULTS: There were 86 patients eligible for inclusion, of whom 52 (60.5%) received alvimopan and 34 (39.5%) received naloxegol. There were no significant differences in baseline clinical or demographic characteristics, nor in perioperative factors (Table). Median postoperative LOS was six days with no significant differences between medication groups. There were also no significant differences between alvimopan and naloxegol in time to return of bowel function (3 versus 2 days to flatus, respectively, p =0.09) or rates of postoperative ileus (13 versus 24 percent, respectively, p =0.26). In multivariable models controlling for patient and surgical factors, choice of medication was not a significant predictor of LOS or ileus. Mean cost difference between alvimopan and naloxegol was -$328.22 per day in favor of naloxegol, equivalent to a reduction of $1,969.32 over a six-day hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing RC, there were no significant differences in postoperative recovery based on the use of alvimopan versus naloxegol. Substitution of naloxegol for alvimopan may allow for significant cost savings without compromising outcomes. Source of Funding: This work was supported by intramural funding through the University of Washington Urology Department © 2022 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 207Issue Supplement 5May 2022Page: e668 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2022 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Peter Kirk More articles by this author Austin Wang More articles by this author Dima Raskolnikov More articles by this author Sarah Psutka More articles by this author George Schade More articles by this author John Gore More articles by this author Yaw Nyame More articles by this author Janet Kelly More articles by this author Jonathan Wright More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF DownloadLoading ...

Data analytics and artificial intelligence in predicting length of stay, readmission, and mortality: a population-based study of surgical management of colorectal cancer

Data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) have been used to predict patient outcomes after colorectal cancer surgery. A prospectively maintained colorectal cancer database was used, covering 4336 patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery between 2003 and 2019. The 47 patient parameters included demographics, peri- and post-operative outcomes, surgical approaches, complications, and mortality. Data analytics were used to compare the importance of each variable and AI prediction models were built for length of stay (LOS), readmission, and mortality. Accuracies of at least 80% have been achieved. The significant predictors of LOS were age, ASA grade, operative time, presence or absence of a stoma, robotic or laparoscopic approach to surgery, and complications. The model with support vector regression (SVR) algorithms predicted the LOS with an accuracy of 83% and mean absolute error (MAE) of 9.69 days. The significant predictors of readmission were age, laparoscopic procedure, stoma performed, preoperative nodal (N) stage, operation time, operation mode, previous surgery type, LOS, and the specific procedure. A BI-LSTM model predicted readmission with 87.5% accuracy, 84% sensitivity, and 90% specificity. The significant predictors of mortality were age, ASA grade, BMI, the formation of a stoma, preoperative TNM staging, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, curative resection, and LOS. Classification predictive modelling predicted three different colorectal cancer mortality measures (overall mortality, and 31- and 91-days mortality) with 80–96% accuracy, 84–93% sensitivity, and 75–100% specificity. A model using all variables performed only slightly better than one that used just the most significant ones.

Impact of Cryoablation on Pectus Excavatum Repair in Pediatric Patients

Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) involves placement of a transthoracic, retrosternal support bar under thoracoscopic guidance. Despite its minimally invasive technical approach, postoperative pain is a significant morbidity that often results in increased length of stay. Multi-modal pain control strategies have been used in the past with limited success. Recently, the use of intraoperative intercostal nerve cryoablation (CA) has been added. In the present study, we aim to evaluate the effects of CA on postoperative pain control, opioid requirements, and perioperative outcomes. A single-center, retrospective chart review of all patients (less than 18 years old) who underwent MIRPE from 2009 to 2020 was performed. CA was started in June 2018. Data collection included demographics, preoperative characteristics, intraoperative findings, and postoperative outcomes. We hypothesized that CA would be associated with improved pain scores, lower doses of total inpatient opioid requirement, and shorter length of stay (LOS). One hundred sixty-one patients met inclusion criteria: 75 underwent intraoperative CA and 86 underwent MIRPE without CA (NCA group). CA significantly decreased median LOS from 4 days in NCA to 2 days; the use of CA was the only significant predictor of LOS on linear regression. CA was also associated with decreased total PCA, intravenous opioid, and oral opioid dosages. There was no difference in inpatient pain scores and a slight increase in mean procedure time. However, CA was associated with significantly decreased postoperative complications. The use of cryoablation during MIRPE significantly decreases LOS, perioperative opioid requirements, and postoperative complications, with a minimal increase in operative time. Cryoablation is an effective pain control modality in the surgical management of chest wall deformities in children.

The Effect of Major and Minor Complications After Lung Surgery on Length of Stay and Readmission.

The effect of post-operative adverse events (AEs) on patient outcomes such as length of stay (LOS) and readmissions to hospital is not completely understood. This study examined the severity of AEs from a high-volume thoracic surgery center and its effect on the patient postoperative LOS and readmissions to hospital. This study includes patients who underwent an elective lung resection between September 2018 and January 2020. The AEs were grouped as no AEs, 1 or more minor AEs, and 1 or more major AEs. The effects of the AEs on patient LOS and readmissions were examined using a survival analysis and logistic regression, respectively, while adjusting for the other demographic or clinical variables. Among 488 patients who underwent lung surgery, (Wedge resection [n = 100], Segmentectomy [n = 51], Lobectomy [n = 310], Bilobectomy [n = 10], or Pneumonectomy [n = 17]) for either primary (n = 440) or secondary (n = 48) lung cancers, 179 (36.7%) patients had no AEs, 264 (54.1%) patients had 1 or more minor AEs, and 45 (9.2%) patients had 1 or more major AEs. Overall, the median of LOS was 3 days which varied significantly between AE groups; 2, 4, and 8 days among the no, minor, and major AE groups, respectively. In addition, type of surgery, renal disease (urinary tract infection [UTI], urinary retention, or acute kidney injury), and ASA (American Society of Anesthesiology) score were significant predictors of LOS. Finally, 58 (11.9%) patients were readmitted. Readmission was significantly associated with AE group (P = 0.016). No other variable could significantly predict patient readmission. Overall, postoperative AEs significantly affect the postoperative LOS and readmission rates.

Predicting the length of stay at admission for emergency general surgery patients a cohort study

IntroductionPredicting length of stay (LOS) is beneficial to patients and the health service. When a prolonged LOS is predicted, it gives the opportunity for focused therapies and allocation of resources to reduce this period. In emergency general surgery (EGS) there has been limited investigation of variables that may be important predictors of LOS. This study examines social characteristics alongside measures of severity of acute illness and co-morbidities in an adult EGS population to establish their contribution to LOS. MethodsData were collected prospectively from patients at admission including medical variables, demographics, and therapeutic requirements. The length of hospital admission was measured, and multiple regression analysis was used to identify variables which predicted the LOS. ResultsData were collected from 105 patients. The regression model gave an R2 of 0.34, p = 0.0006. Barthal index (measure of independence in activities of daily living) was a significant predictor of LOS [logworth 1.649, p0.02243]. Housing status and Level of social support both correlated in one-way analysis with LOS. ConclusionThere are non-surgical variables, measurable at admission which are of significant value in predicting LOS of EGS patients. This warrants further investigation through a larger study to better quantify the contributions of these variables, and establish potential early interventions to reduce the LOS.

Abstract 15580: The Impact of Sex and Gender-related Factors on Length-of-stay Following NSTEMI: A Multicountry Analysis

Introduction: Gender refers to psycho-socio-cultural characteristics typically ascribed to men, women and gender-diverse individuals and has been shown to be associated with adverse clinical outcomes in AMI independent of sex. Substantial heterogeneity in hospital length of stay exists among patients admitted with NSTEMI. Whether sex and gender-based differences contribute to length-of-stay (LOS) among patients with NSTEMI remains unknown. Methods: To examine the relationship between sex, gender-related factors and LOS in adults hospitalized for NSTEMI, data from the GENESIS-PRAXY (n=1,210, Canada, U.S. and Switzerland), EVA (n=430, Italy) and VIRGO (n=3,572, U.S., Spain and Australia) studies of adults hospitalized for AMI were combined and analyzed. A best-fit linear regression model was selected through incremental analysis by stepwise addition of gender-related variables thought to be different in either impact or distribution between men and women. Results: Among the overall cohort (n=5,212), 2,218 participants with a diagnosis of NSTEMI were included in the final cohort (66% women, mean age 48.5 years, 67.8% U.S.). Half of the patients had a LOS of longer than 4 days (n=1,124) and were more likely to be white and have a clustering of cardiac risk factors in comparison to those with shorter LOS. No association between sex and LOS was observed in the bivariate analysis (p=0.87). In the multivariable model adjusted for sex, age, country of hospitalization, level of education, marital status, employment status, income, and social support, age (0.062 days/year, p=0.0002), being employed (-0.63 days in workers, p=0.01) and the treatment country relative to Canada (Italy=4.1 days; Spain=1.7 days; and the U.S.=-1.0 days, all p-value&lt;0.001) were significant predictors of LOS. Conclusions: Employed individuals are more likely to experience a shorter LOS following NSTEMI. Variation in LOS exists across different countries and is likely due to institutional policy, resource allocation, and differences in cultural and psychosocial influences.

Predicting length of stay in patients admitted to stroke rehabilitation with severe and moderate levels of functional impairments.

Severe stroke patients are known to be associated with larger rehabilitation length of stay (LOS) but other factors besides severity may be contributing. We aim to identify LOS predictors within a population of mostly severe patients and analyze the impact of socioeconomic situation in functionality at admission.A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted including 172 inpatients admitted to a rehabilitation center between 2007 and 2019. Associations with LOS were examined among 30 potential predictor variables using bivariate correlations. Significantly correlated (P < .002, Bonferroni adjustment) variables were entered into 9 different multiple linear regression models.No mild participants were included, 63.37% severe and 36.63% moderate. Most significant LOS determinants were: 1) total functional independence measure (FIM) (P < .001) and hemiparesis (P = .0108) (adjusted R2 = 0.24), 2) cognitive FIM (P = .002) and severity (P = .001) (adjusted R2 = 0.22), and 3) home accessibility (P = .043) and hemiparesis (P = 0.032) (adjusted R2 = 0.19).Known LOS predictors (e.g., depression, ataxia) within the full stroke severities were not found significant in our dataset.Socioeconomic situation was found moderately correlated with total FIM (r = −0.32, P < .0001).When stratifying the patients’ socioeconomic situation into mild, important, and severe social risk, their respective median total FIM at admission were 61.5, 50, and 41, with significant differences between the mild and important group (P < .001); also significant differences were found between mild and severe groups (P < .001).A few of the variables identified in the literature as significant predictors of LOS within the full stroke population were also significant for our dataset (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, FIM, home accessibility) explaining less than 25% of the LOS variance. Most of the 30 analyzed known predictors were not significant (e.g., depression, age, recurrent stroke, ataxia, orientation, verbal communication, etc) suggesting that factors outside functional, socioeconomic, medical, and demographics not included in this study (e.g., rehabilitation sessions intensity) have important influences on LOS for severe patients.Patients at mild social risk obtained significantly higher total FIM at admission than patients at important and severe social risk. The importance of socioeconomic situation has been scarcely studied in the literature in relation to functionality at admission; our results suggest that it requires to be considered.

Determinants of Length of Stay in a Psychiatric Ward: a Retrospective Chart Review.

Considering the limited resources for providing inpatient services, identification of the factors influencing length of stay (LOS) is of great importance. The current study is a retrospective chart review which was planned to investigate the determinants of LOS in two gender-specific psychiatric wards within Baqiatallah Hospital (BQH) located in Tehran. The observation period was between March 21, 2011 and March 19, 2016. 3203 patients were recruited in terms of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Next, required data on 25 explanatory variables were extracted from their case-files. Descriptive measures were used for analysis and Independent Samples T-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and Bonferroni's post-hoc test for inferential analysis. Lastly, a multiple linear regression model was run to determine significant predictors of psychiatric LOS. Variables significantly correlated with patients' LOS included gender, age, employment status, marital status, number of divorces, disability rate, discharge diagnosis, physical comorbidity, number of previous hospitalizations, suicide ideation, number of suicide attempts, history of assault, tobacco consumption, a history of narcotic drug abuse and number of ECT sessions. Through the analysis of multiple linear regression, it came to light that significant predictors of LOS in the final model could account for 37.9% of the variance in LOS. From the findings of current study, it can be inferred that clinical aspects as well as treatment procedures have major effects on LOS. Although the factors examined here could not explain an acceptable variance in LOS, the results are useful for the treatment team when they want to devise a care plan or give discharge to a patient.

Inpatient burden of cervical and uterine cancer in the United States.

e17009 Background: Limited data on the inpatient burden of cervical and uterine cancer exist. Therefore, this study assessed inpatient mortality, length of stay (LOS), and costs among hospitalized cervical and uterine cancer patients. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of the 2006–2015 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project – Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS). Cervical and uterine cancer cases were identified using ICD-9 codes of 180.9 and 182.0 respectively. Patient demographics, hospital characteristics, and hospital outcomes (hospitalization rates, inpatient mortality, LOS, and costs) were examined. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine predictors of inpatient mortality. Generalized linear models were used to determine predictors of LOS and costs. Results: The analytic cohort included 67,429 cervical cancer and 74,394 uterine cancer cases resulting in 55.92 (±1.51) and 61.69 (±1.78) annual hospitalizations (per 100,000 women), respectively. The highest proportion of hospitalizations related to cervical and uterine cancer were among patients aged 45-65 years (38.9%, 45.7%), Caucasians (70.3%, 78.1%), having public insurance (59.6%, 67.4%), and admitted at large (63.3%, 63.1%), urban teaching (54.8%, 56.5%) hospitals. The mean LOS, proportion of patients who died during hospitalization, and hospital charges per stay were 4.22 (±0.02) days, 1.02%, and $9,646 (±$63.06) for cervical cancer and 4.39 (±0.02) days, 1.43%, and $10,790 (±65.47) for uterine cancer related hospitalizations. Age &gt; 65 years (vs 18-45 years) (OR: 3.656; 95% CI: 2.99 – 4.47), and higher Elixhauser mortality score (OR: 1.097; 95% CI: 1.09 – 1.10) were associated with higher inpatient mortality among cervical cancer patients. Predictors of inpatient mortality for uterine cancer were similar. Patient age, insurance, race, hospital size, urban (vs rural) location, region of the country, and Elixhauser mortality score emerged as significant predictors of LOS and cost per hospital discharge across both cancers. Conclusions: Cervical and uterine cancer are associated with considerable inpatient burden. There was considerable variation in inpatient mortality, LOS, and costs based on patient, hospital, and discharge level characteristics.

Predictors of Hospital Length of Stay and Readmissions in Ischemic Stroke Patients and the Impact of Inpatient Medication Management

This study was designed to evaluate predictors of hospital length of stay (LOS) and readmissions among nonsurgical ischemic stroke patient, and the impact of inpatient medication management. This retrospective cohort study includes adult patients (≥18 years) hospitalized with a diagnosis of nonsurgical ischemic stroke from November 2007 to March 2013. In November 2011, an inpatient medication management model was implemented in the stroke unit. At the end of the study period, patients were matched before and after implementation of the inpatient medication management model (non-PHC [pharmacist-hospitalist collaborative] and PHC, respectively) to evaluate change in outcomes. The primary outcome of the study is an evaluation of predictive factors affecting LOS and readmissions. Additionally, changes in LOS and all-cause readmission at 30, 60, and 90 days when compared between PHC and non-PHC were evaluated. A total of 151 PHC patients were matched to 248 non-PHC patients. There was no difference in LOS between the PHC and non-PHC patients (mean adjusted difference -.14; P = .66). Similar finding was observed for readmissions (P > .05). Insurance type was a significant predictor of LOS, with Medicare patients having an extended LOS compared to patients with private insurance (mean difference -1.00; P = .005). Patients taking statins and patients aged less than 80 years had a lower 30-day readmission rate compared to nonstatin users and patients aged 80 years or older, respectively (P < .05). Insurance type and severity of illness are important predictors of LOS, whereas readmissions are mostly influenced by age and statin use.

Factors influencing length of stay after surgery for benign foregut disease.

Length of stay (LOS) is an important measure of quality and healthcare costs. Variation occurs due to individual and institutional practices, case complexity and patient/social factors. Identification of variables affecting LOS may help develop enhanced recovery protocols. This study aims to identify factors influencing LOS following surgery for hiatal hernia, gastro-oesophageal reflux and achalasia. We identified all patients who underwent benign foregut surgery between August 2013 and July 2014 inclusive. Data from a prospectively maintained database were collected and univariate/multivariable analyses were performed. All patients were contacted to determine their 30-day readmission rate to any hospital. One hundred and sixty-five patients were identified in the 12-month period; 68% underwent laparoscopic surgery and 32% open surgery. The rates of laparoscopic conversion to open surgery and operative mortality were zero. Statistically, the most significant predictor of LOS was the surgical approach. The median LOS was 2 days for laparoscopic surgery and 4 days for open surgery. Beyond the surgical approach, the following factors were significant in predicting LOS: for laparoscopic surgery patients, younger age, shorter operative time, nasogastric (NG) tube removal in the operation theatre (OT), OT exit before noon, low postoperative nausea counts and discharge to home rather than a skilled facility were associated with reduced LOS. For open surgery patients, younger age, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I-II, urinary catheter removal before discharge, discharge to home and discharge on the weekend were associated with reduced LOS. Whether surgery was primary or reoperation did not affect LOS. The overall 30-day readmission rate was 5% (laparoscopic 3% and open 12%; P = 0.003). The laparoscopic surgery approach, where feasible, in the treatment of benign foregut diseases is the strongest predictor of a decreased LOS. Modifiable factors influencing LOS include OT exit time, NG tube removal in the OT, urinary catheter removal in hospital and postoperative nausea control. Any implementation of enhanced recovery pathways to optimize these factors must monitor readmission rates and complications to confirm efficacy.

Evaluating the clinical outcomes associated with a modified prolonged infusion piperacillin–tazobactam protocol: A pilot study

AbstractPurpose: This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of a hospital-wide initiative of a 4-h prolonged infusion piperacillin–tazobactam (pip–tz) vs. a 30-min and a 4-h prolonged infusion. Methods: This retrospective study included patients who received pip–tz by two different infusion models with a documented or suspected Gram-negative infection. Patients can receive a 30-min infusion then a 4-h infusion or a 4-h infusion of pip–tz. The study’s primary outcomes were length of stay (LOS) and 30-day mortality. Findings: Seventy-four patients received both types of infusion (SP) and 275 patients received only the prolonged infusion (PI). Using univariate analysis, the PI group had a higher mortality rate (13%) vs. SP group (4%) (p = 0.033). The PI group had a higher mean LOS (12.6 ± 9.5 days) vs. the SP group (10.3 ± 8.2 days) (p = 0.04). The type of infusion was not a significant predictor of LOS or mortality in multiple regression analysis (p > 0.05). Implications: This preliminary study showed that ...

Can the Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score (BRASS) predict length of hospital stay and need for comprehensive discharge planning for patients following hip and knee replacement surgery? Predicting arthroplasty planning and stay using the BRASS.

Knee and hip arthroplasty constitutes a large percentage of hospital elective surgical procedures. The Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score (BRASS) was designed to identify patients in need of discharge planning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the BRASS was associated with length of stay (LOS) in hospital following elective arthroplasty. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of individuals undergoing primary elective arthroplasty for knee or hip osteoarthritis who had a documented BRASS score. In our study cohort of 241, both BRASS (p < 0.001) and replacement type (hip v. knee; p = 0.048) were predictive of LOS. Higher BRASS was associated with older patients (p < 0.001), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists score (p < 0.001) and longer LOS (p < 0.001). We found a specificity of 83% for a BRASS greater than 8 and a hospital stay longer than 5 days and a specificity of 92% for a BRASS greater than 10. The BRASS represents a novel and significant predictor of LOS following elective arthroplasty. Patients with higher BRASS are more likely to stay in hospital 5 days or more and should receive pre-emptive social work consultations to facilitate timely discharge planning and hospital resources.

Abstract 16858: Factors Associated With Length of Stay and Cost of the Fontan Surgery: A Multi-Institutional Study

Introduction: We sought to determine factors associated with length of stay (LOS) and cost of the Fontan surgery in a contemporary large multi-institutional cohort. Hypothesis: Independent and modifiable risk factors associated with longer LOS and higher cost will be identified. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of Fontan surgey (1/2004 - 7/2013) using the Pediatric Health Information Systems (PHIS) database (40 US children’s hospitals). Outcome parameters were LOS and costs at Fontan surgery. Predictor variables were demographics (race, insurance, region, rural vs city, commute time, surgical volume), cardiac and other diagnoses, Glenn events, readmission between Glenn and Fontan, and age at Glenn and Fontan. Following a stepwise selection procedure, significant predictors of LOS and cost were included in a generalized linear model with the appropriate inverse Gaussian distribution and the log link function with LOS and cost (adjusted to 2012 $ and region) as the dependent variable. Results: For the 2187 patients (62% male) who had Fontan surgery, the median age at surgery was 1146 days (IQR: 943-1369) and at Glenn was 165 days (IQR: 133-208). Following Fontan, the median ICU LOS was 3 days (IQR: 2-6) and total LOS was 9 days (IQR: 7-14). The median total hospital cost was $93, 900 (IQR: 67,800-136,100). Post-operative mortality was 1% (N=21). Region, insurance, race, surgical volume were the predominant factors associated with both cost and LOS (Table 1). Conclusion: This is the largest multicenter contemporary study describing the factors (particularly healthcare delivery factors) associated with resource utilization during the Fontan hospitalization. Health care delivery variables dominated the factors predicting increased resource utilization. Changes in health care policy should target health care delivery risk factors (race, region, insurance, driving distance, surgical volume) to reduce cost in this resource intensive population.

Evaluation of screening criteria for palliative care consultation in the MICU: a multihospital analysis

BackgroundThere are currently no comprehensive studies in critical care settings that have set out to examine the association of palliative care screening criteria with multiple, adverse patient outcomes.MethodsA 7-item palliative...

The HALOS‐ND model: a step in the journey of predicting hospital length of stay after liver transplantation

Hospital length of stay (LOS) after liver transplantation has been determined to correlate with liver disease severity, post-transplant survival rates, and transplant-associated costs. A patient's model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score and an organ's Donor risk index (DRI) have both been found to be significant predictors of LOS, but these two factors alone are insufficient to form an accurate prediction. Previous studies have identified other factors predictive of LOS, which can be incorporated with MELD and DRI to create more specific results. The objective of this study was to create an algorithm, or models, based on the most significant LOS predictors as identified from national data at different stages of the transplant process. Four models were developed predicting LOS using recipient factors, payment factors, donor factors, and postoperative factors. A medical care team member can enter a patient's data into the model and receive a reasonably accurate prediction of LOS for each phase of the liver transplant process, specifying the impact of each factor. These predictions would help predict the factors most likely to prolong LOS, inform resource allocation, and provide patients with more specific predictions of their LOS following transplantation.

Rehabilitation of patients with nontraumatic spinal cord injury in the Netherlands: etiology, length of stay, and functional outcome.

Patients with nontraumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI) are different from patients with traumatic spinal cord injury. A better understanding of the characteristics of NTSCI and their influence on length of stay (LOS) and functional outcome might help professionals in planning rehabilitation and predicting outcomes in NTSCI. To describe personal and injury characteristics, etiology, LOS, and functional outcome after inpatient rehabilitation in patients with NTSCI. Retrospective single-center study including 124 patients who were discharged between 2006 and 2010 from their initial inpatient rehabilitation after onset of NTSCI. Information about personal and injury characteristics, LOS, and functional outcome was collected from medical files. Descriptive statistics were performed, and associations between etiology, LOS, and functional outcome were investigated. Fifty percent of participants were male, and mean age was 54.9 years (SD 13.7). Most lesions were classified as American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) D (68.8%) and paraplegic (76.6%). The most frequent etiologies were degeneration (25.8%), vascular disease (21.8%), benign tumor (16.1%), and malignant tumor (15.3%). Discharge destination was usually a private residence (84.6%). Median LOS in inpatient rehabilitation was 61.0 days (interquartile range [IQR], 38.3-111.8). Median functional status score was 47.5 (IQR, 30-70) at admission and 90 (IQR, 75-100) at discharge. Etiology was a significant predictor of LOS and functional status at admission and discharge, but not of functional improvement during inpatient rehabilitation. Spinal degeneration, tumor, and vascular disease were the most common causes of NTSCI. All etiology groups improved during inpatient rehabilitation.