News

Risk score predicts rehospitalization after heart surgery

View on the News

Many pleural effusions due to retained hemothorax
Dr. Francis J. Podbielski

Dr. Kilic's data illustrates common factors resulting in rehospitalization after cardiac surgery. Fastidious fluid management in these patients and others is critical to reduce hospital readmissions. A further point to consider is that many pleural effusions, especially those on the left side, are due to retained hemothorax rather than fluid overload. In those instances, early surgical intervention with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, rather than prolonged diuresis, would be optimal.

Dr. Francis J. Podbielski, FCCP, serves on the editorial advisory board for CHEST Physician.


 

References

Patients with a score of 0 had a 6% rate of a 30-day readmission; those with a score of 22 had a 63% readmission rate. For simplicity, Dr. Kilic suggested dividing patients into three categories based on their readmission risk score: Low-risk patients with a score of 0 had a readmission risk of 6%, medium-risk patients with a score of 1-10 had a readmission risk of 12%, and high-risk patients with a score of 11 or more had a readmission risk of 31%. The researchers found a 96% correlation when comparing these predicted readmission risk rates based on the derivation-subgroup analysis with the actual readmission rates seen in the validation subgroup of their database. The targeted risk-management program planned by Dr. Conte would primarily focus on high-risk patients.

Dr. Kilic and Dr. Conte said they had no relevant financial disclosures.

mzoler@frontlinemedcom.com
On Twitter @mitchelzoler

Pages

Next Article: