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A multi‐center analysis of readmission after cardiac surgery: Experience of The Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group
Author(s) -
Trooboff Spencer W.,
Magnus Patrick C.,
Ross Cathy S.,
Chaisson Kristine,
Kramer Robert S.,
Helm Robert E.,
Desaulniers Helen,
Rosa Roberto C.,
Westbrook Benjamin M.,
Duquette Dennis,
Brown Jeremiah R.,
Olmstead Elaine M.,
Malenka David J.,
Iribarne Alexander
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of cardiac surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.428
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1540-8191
pISSN - 0886-0440
DOI - 10.1111/jocs.14086
Subject(s) - medicine , interquartile range , atrial fibrillation , heart failure , cardiac surgery , coronary artery disease , medical record , univariate analysis , pericardial effusion , surgery , cardiology , multivariate analysis
Abstract Background Readmissions after cardiac surgery are common and associated with increased morbidity, mortality and cost of care. Policymakers have targeted coronary artery bypass grafting to achieve value‐oriented health care milestones. We explored the causes of readmission following cardiac surgery among a regional consortium of hospitals. Methods Using administrative data, we identified patients readmitted to the same institution within 30 days of cardiac surgery. We performed standardized review of readmitted patients’ medical records to identify primary and secondary causes of readmission. We evaluated causes of readmission by procedure and tested for univariate associations between characteristics of readmitted patients and nonreadmitted patients in our clinical registry. Results Of 2218 cardiac surgery patients, 272 were readmitted to the index hospital within 30 days for a readmission rate of 12.3%. Median time to readmission was 9 days (interquartile range 4‐16 days) and only 13% of patients were evaluated in‐office before readmission. Readmitted patients were more likely to have had valve surgery (31.3% vs 22.7%) than patients not readmitted. Readmitted patients were also more likely to have preoperative creatinine more than or equal to 2 mg/dL ( P = .015) or congestive heart failure (CHF) ( P = .034), require multiple blood transfusions or sustained inotropic support ( P < .001), and experience postoperative atrial fibrillation ( P = .022) or renal insufficiency ( P < .001). Infection (26%), pleural or pericardial effusion (19%), arrhythmia (16%), and CHF (11%) were the most common primary etiologies leading to readmission. Conclusions Ensuring early follow‐up for high‐risk patient groups while improving early detection and management of the principal drivers of readmission represent promising targets for decreasing readmission rates.