Background
Characteristics of 30‐day unplanned readmissions after head and neck microvascular reconstruction remain poorly understood.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort of patients who underwent head and neck microvascular reconstruction between 2010 and 2015.
Results
The 30‐day unplanned readmission rate was 13.0% (64/493). The most common readmission diagnoses were dehiscence, surgical site infection, or fistula (45.3%; n = 29). Of the readmissions, 46.9% (30/64) occurred within 7 days of discharge from the hospital. Risk factors for readmission on multivariable analysis included body mass index (BMI) < 21 kg/m[2][Jencks SF, 2009] (odds ratio [OR] 2.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36‐4.47), primary site of oropharynx (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.17‐6.06), hypopharynx/larynx (OR 3.66; 95% CI 1.70‐7.88), or sinonasal/skull base (OR 4.07; 95% CI 1.43‐11.55), and fistula during the index hospitalization (OR 2.98; 95% CI 1.22‐7.24).
Conclusion
More than 1 in 10 patients undergoing head and neck microvascular reconstruction has a 30‐day unplanned readmission, most commonly related to wound complications. Further efforts are needed to determine optimal 30‐day unplanned readmission reduction strategies.