Key result
Unplanned 30-day readmissions follow ~6% of surgeries, driven most commonly by surgical site infections.
Population
Patients undergoing surgery at one of 346 continuously enrolled US hospitals participating in the American…
Design
Cohort
Follow-up
30-day
Authors
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Supports emphasis on postdischarge SSI prevention; leaves open efficacy of targeted interventions to lower readmissions.
Observational (n=498,875)
Yes
Readmissions after surgery are primarily driven by new postdischarge complications, particularly surgical site infections, rather than exacerbations of index hospitalization complications.
Merkow et al. (2015) conducted an observational in Postoperative readmission (n=498,875). Surgical procedures was evaluated on Unplanned 30-day readmission and reason for readmission. The unplanned 30-day readmission rate following surgery was 5.7%, with surgical site infection being the most common reason (19.5%), primarily reflecting new postdischarge complications.
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