Factors associated with emergency room visits within 30 days of outpatient foot and ankle surgeries. Issue 2 (3rd April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shibuya, Naohiro; Patel, Himani; Graney, Colin; Jupiter, Daniel C.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings. Volume 31:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 160
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03
• Subjects: Emergency department -- insurance -- readmission -- surgical complications; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Medicine -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.005
• DOI: 10.1080/08998280.2018.1441251
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-8280

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The number of emergency department (ED) visits within 30 days after elective surgery has been utilized as a quality measure by many institutions. The significance of the measure as a postoperative complication in foot and ankle surgery, and risk factors for it, are unknown. We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 386 patients to determine risk factors associated with ED visits after outpatient foot and ankle surgeries. After adjusting for clinically relevant covariates, we found that previous ED visits within 6 months of surgery, and nonelective surgeries were associated with the postoperative ED visit. Having private insurance was protective against postoperative ED visits. Though these risk factors may not be easily modifiable by surgeons, understanding them may improve patient education and transitional care to prevent overcrowding of the ED.