Early unplanned readmissions following same-admission cholecystectomy for acute biliary pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Same-admission cholecystectomy (CCY) is recommended for mild acute biliary pancreatitis (biliary-AP). However, there is a paucity of research investigating reasons for early (30-day) unplanned readmissions in patients who undergo CCY for biliary-AP. Hence, we sought to investigate this gap using a large population database. METHODS: Using the Nationwide Readmission Database (2010-2014), we identified all adults (age ≥ 18 years) with a principal diagnosis of biliary-AP who had undergone CCY during the index hospitalization. Multivariable logistic regression models were obtained to assess independent predictors for 30-day readmission. Principal diagnosis for all readmissions was collected to ascertain the indications for early readmission. RESULTS: During the study period, 118,224 patients underwent same-admission CCY for biliary-AP. Three-fourths of all patients underwent invasive cholangiography during the hospitalization (intraoperative cholangiogram (IOC) = 57,038, ERCP = 31,500). The rate of early (30-day) readmission was 7.25% (n = 8574). Exacerbation of prior medical conditions (42.2%), sequelae of biliary-AP (resolving and recurrent pancreatitis, pseudocysts) (27.6%), surgical site and other postoperative complications (16%), choledocholithiasis and/or bile leak (9.6%), and preventable hospital-acquired conditions (4.6%) accounted for early readmissions. On multivariable analysis, predictors for readmission included male sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-1.28), insurance type (Medicare insurance [OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.13-1.40]; Medicaid [OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.09-1.38]), outside-facility discharge (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.16-1.57), severe AP (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.21-1.50), and ≥ 3 Elixhauser comorbidities (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.41-1.69). Performance of IOC (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82-0.97) and ERCP (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.73-0.89) were associated with decreased risk of early readmission. CONCLUSION: In this study, using a national population database evaluating patients who underwent same-admission CCY after biliary-AP, we identified potentially modifiable risk factors and causes for early readmission as well as opportunities to improve clinical care.

Endoscopic intervention and cholecystectomy in pregnant women with acute biliary pancreatitis decrease early readmissions.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) is associated with increased rates of morbidity in pregnancy. Because there is a paucity of population-based studies evaluating ABP in pregnancy, we sought to investigate clinical outcomes in hospitalized pregnant women on a national level. METHODS: By using the Nationwide Readmission Database (2011-2014), we identified all women (age ≥18 years) with an index admission for ABP in the United States. Multivariate and propensity-score matched analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of pregnancy on the clinical outcomes of early readmission and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in ABP. RESULTS: There were 7787 hospitalizations for ABP in pregnant women during the study period. The rate of 30-day readmission was 16.26%; 57% of these early readmissions were due to adverse events of ABP. Compared with nonpregnant women with ABP, ERCP (21.1% vs 25.2%; P < .001) and cholecystectomy (52.8% vs 55.2%; P = .02) were performed less frequently during pregnancy. Propensity-score matched analysis revealed an increased risk of 30-day readmissions in pregnancy (odds ratio [OR], 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.67-2.30), whereas there was no difference in the risk of SAP (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.76-1.57). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that weekend admission (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.10-1.79) and >1 week of hospitalization (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.24-2.48) increased the risk of 30-day readmission, whereas ERCP (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.27-0.57) and cholecystectomy (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.10-0.18) reduced the odds of early readmission in pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women with ABP less frequently undergo timely endoscopic biliary decompression and cholecystectomy. These modifiable factors can potentially lower early readmissions in pregnant women.