Multicentre review of readmission rates within 30 days of discharge following lung cancer surgery

• Published in: British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) Vol. 28; no. 17; p. S16
• Main Authors: King, Maureen, Kerr, Amy, Dixon, Sandra, Taylor, Sarah, Smith, Alison, Merriman, Charlotte, Mitchell, Jenny, Canavan, Jane, Hunter, Verity
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 26.09.2019
• Subjects: Humans; Lung Neoplasms - surgery; Patient Discharge - statistics & numerical data; Patient Readmission - statistics & numerical data; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Complications - therapy; Time Factors; United Kingdom - epidemiology; United Kingdom; 30-day readmission; Thoracic surgery; Lung cancer; Discharge
• ISSN: 0966-0461
• DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2019.28.17.S16

Postoperative complications following curative lung cancer surgery are well recognised, but there is limited data on 30-day readmission rates. The UK Thoracic Surgery Group conducted a multicentre review over a 3-month period to assess readmission rates. Overall readmission among the 268 patients who had undergone primary lung cancer surgery was 30 (11%); 14/30 of readmissions occurred within 7 days of discharge, with 13/30 patients readmitted to a hospital that had not performed the surgery. The causes of readmission were mainly pulmonary related (16/30). Readmission was associated with being discharged with a pleural drain 11/30 ( <0.01), having two or more postoperative complications 11/30 ( <0.01) and a patient's readiness for discharge 9/30 ( =0.001). There was a trend toward an association with smoking 13/30 ( =0.18). The authors suggest that a greater focus on patients presenting with characteristics associated with readmission, and incorporating a patient's readiness for discharge, may reduce readmission, although more studies are needed.