Hospital readmission following open, single-stage, elective abdominal wall reconstructions using acellular dermal matrix affects long-term hernia recurrence rate.
BACKGROUND
We evaluated the incidence of and the risk factors for readmission in patients who underwent abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) using acellular dermal matrix (ADM) and assess whether readmission affects AWR long-term outcomes.


METHODS
A retrospective, single-center study of patients underwent AWR with ADM was conducted. The primary outcome was the incidence of unplanned readmission within 30 days after the initial discharge post-AWR. Secondary outcomes were surgical site occurrence (SSO) and hernia recurrence at follow-up.


RESULTS
Of 452 patients (mean age, 59 years; mean follow-up, 35 months), 29 (6.4%) were readmitted within 30 days. Most readmissions were due to SSO (44.8%) or wound infections (12.8%). The hernia recurrence rate was significantly higher in readmitted patients (17.2% vs 9.9%; P = 0.044). Wider defects, prolonged operative time, and coronary artery disease were independent predictors of readmission.


CONCLUSIONS
Readmission is associated with hernia recurrence on long-term follow-up. SSO is the most common cause for readmission.
['Giordano|Salvatore A|SA|', 'Garvey|Patrick B|PB|', 'Baumann|Donald P|DP|', 'Liu|Jun|J|', 'Butler|Charles E|CE|']
D034861:Abdominal Wall D061645:Abdominoplasty D062088:Acellular Dermis D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D006555:Hernia, Ventral D059685:Herniorrhaphy D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010359:Patient Readmission D057216:Propensity Score D012008:Recurrence D012189:Retrospective Studies D013526:Surgical Mesh D013997:Time Factors D016896:Treatment Outcome
Readmission Abdominal wall Hernia Acellular dermis Postoperative complications Surgical mesh