National Assessment of Early Discharge After Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Lung Resection

Ashorne K. Mahenthiran, Brian C. Brajcich, Samuel Kim, Ankit Bharat, David D. Odell*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) techniques permit shorter postoperative length of stay (LOS). However, it remains unknown whether earlier discharge increases the risk of adverse postoperative events. We examined whether shorter LOS following elective VATS lung resection was associated with increased rates of readmission or postoperative complications. Methods: Patients who underwent elective thoracoscopic segmentectomy, lobectomy, or bilobectomy for lung neoplasms from 2011 to 2018 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) dataset. Postoperative LOS was treated as an ordinal variable. The examined outcomes were 30-d readmission and 30-d postdischarge death or serious morbidity (DSM). Multivariable logistic regression models evaluated the association of LOS with outcomes. The most common readmission diagnoses were identified for each operation. Results: Among 14,418 patients, 12,410 (86.1%) underwent lobectomy, 1764 (12.2%) underwent segmentectomy, and 244 (1.7%) underwent bilobectomy. The median LOS was 3 d for patients undergoing lobectomy (IQR 2-5) and segmentectomy (IQR 2-4), and 4 d for bilobectomy (IQR 3-6). Readmission rates varied with admission time and ranged from 5.0% for patients with LOS ≤1 d to 8.5% for LOS ≥5 d. The most common readmission diagnoses were pneumothorax (19.0%) and wound complications (13.4%). Each one-day increase in LOS was associated with an increased risk of readmission (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.04-1.17, P < 0.001). No association was seen between earlier discharge and DSM (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.99-1.18, P = 0.070). Conclusions: Early discharge following VATS lung resection is not associated with increased rates of readmission or postoperative complications among patients undergoing surgery for cancer, and may safely be considered for selected patients with uncomplicated postoperative recovery.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)242-250
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Surgical Research
Volume276
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2022

Funding

BCB is funded by the American College of Surgeons, United States as part of the Clinical Scholars in Residence Program and by a training grant from the National Cancer Institute, United States ( T32CA247801 ). DDO is supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute, United States ( K07CA216330 ).

Keywords

  • Lobectomy
  • Lung cancer surgery
  • Postoperative care
  • Segmentectomy
  • VATS
  • Wedge resection

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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