Externación temprana y readmisiones hospitalarias en cirugía cardiovascular pediátrica / Early discharge and hospital readmission in pediatric cardiovascular surgery

RESUMEN

Objetivo: describir una estrategia de externación temprana en cirugía cardíaca pediátrica e identificar factores de riesgo de readmisión hospitalaria dentro de los 30 días del procedimiento. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo de cohorte. Se incluyeron los pacientes operados de cardiopatía congénita, egresados vivos en 2010. Se registraron edad, peso, diagnóstico, tipo de cirugía, días de internación, egreso directo de UCI o pase a sala, y readmisiones. Se consideró externación temprana cuando la estadía hospitalaria fue igual o menor de 5 días a partir del procedimiento quirúrgico. Se consideraron factores de riesgo de readmisión edad < 6 meses, peso < 5 Kg., cirugía previa y síndrome genético. Se compararon las readmisiones de los egresos tempranos, con el total de egresos y se realizó un análisis de factores de riesgo. Resultados: En el periodo definido 327 pacientes egresaron vivos. El 47% (154) dentro de los 5 días de la cirugía, 141 con egreso directo de UCI y 13 pasaron a la sala. Los pacientes con externación temprana fueron de mayor edad y peso que la mediana general y con cirugías de menor complejidad. Reingresaron 40 pacientes (12%), no hubo diferencias entre las readmisiones de los egresos tempranos y el total de egresos; ni entre egresos directos o pases a la sala. La principal causa de readmisión fue fiebre sin foco (33%), seguida de infección de herida quirúrgica. Ningún paciente tuvo eventos de gravedad o falleció en la reinternación. No se encontraron factores de riesgo asociados a readmisión. Conclusión: un protocolo de externación temprana en cirugía cardíaca pediátrica permite reducir la estancia hospitalaria, sin mayor frecuencia de readmisiones, ni eventos de gravedad durante las mismas (AU)

ABSTRACT

Objective: To describe a strategy for early discharge in pediatric heart surgery and identify risk factors for readmission to the hospital within 30 days of the procedure. Patients and methods: A descriptive, retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients who underwent surgery for congenital heart disease discharged alive in 2010 were included in the study. Age, diagnosis, weight, type of surgery, days of hospital stay, discharge directly from the ICU or transfer to the ward, and readmissions were recorded. Early discharge was defined as a hospital stay of 5 days or less after the surgical procedure. The following risk factors for readmission were considered age < 6 months, weight < 5 kg, previous surgery, and genetic syndrome. Readmission rate after early discharge was compared to the total discharge rate and a risk factor analysis was performed. Results: Over the study period 327 patients were discharged alive. Overall 47% (154) was discharged within 5 days of surgery; 141 were discharged directly from the ICU and 13 were transferred to the ward. Patients that were discharged early were older and weighed more than the general population and they had undergone less complex surgeries. Forty patients (12%) were readmitted. No differences were found in readmissions between early discharges and total discharges or between discharges directly from the ICU or transfers to the ward. The main cause of readmission was fever without a focus (33%) followed by surgical wound infection. None of the patients had severe adverse events or died during in-hospital stay. No risk factors associated with readmission were found. Conclusion: A protocol of early discharge in pediatric heart surgery allows to reduce hospital stay without increasing the rate of readmissions or severe adverse events (AU)