ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Emergency general surgery can have a profound impact on the functional status of even previously independent patients. The role and influence of discharging a patient to a skilled nursing facility, however, remains largely unknown. METHODS: We queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program for community-dwelling adults who underwent 1 of 7 emergency general surgery procedures and were discharged home or to a skilled nursing facility from 2012 to 2016. Propensity score matching and multivariable regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between discharge disposition and outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 140,922 patients met the inclusion criteria. The majority were discharged home (95.9%). After applying 1:1 propensity score matching, in comparison to patients discharged home, individuals discharged to a skilled nursing facility had a greater odds of respiratory (odds ratio 2.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-3.38) and septic complications (odds ratio 1.63, 95% confidence interval 1.12-2.36) after discharge. Furthermore, following surgery, individuals discharged to a skilled nursing facility had a greater odds of 30-day readmission (odds ratio 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.29), and death within 30 days of the procedure (odds ratio 2.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.65-2.61). CONCLUSION: After accounting for patient severity and perioperative course, discharge to a skilled nursing facility is an independent risk factor for death, readmission, and postdischarge complications.
Subject(s)
Emergencies , General Surgery/methods , Home Care Services/statistics & numerical data , Patient Discharge/statistics & numerical data , Skilled Nursing Facilities/statistics & numerical data , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Databases, Factual , Female , Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Independent Living , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Patient Readmission/statistics & numerical data , Prognosis , Propensity Score , Retrospective Studies , Risk Assessment , Sex Factors , Survival Analysis , United StatesABSTRACT
Postoperative vision loss (POVL) following non-ocular surgery is a serious complication where the causes are not fully understood. Studies have identified several causes of POVL as well as risk factors and prevention strategies. POVL research is made difficult by the fact that cases are often subject to malpractice claims, resulting in a lack of public access to case reports. This literature review was conducted in order to identify legal issues as a major barrier to studying POVL and address how this affects current knowledge. Informed consent provides an opportunity to overcome legal challenges by reducing malpractice litigation through educating the patient on this outcome. Providing pertinent information regarding POVL during the informed consent process has potential to reduce malpractice claims and increase available clinical information.
