Rammal et al reported factors associated with readmission following a total laryngectomy. These can help to identify factors that can be addressed prior to surgery. The authors are from King Abdulaziz University and King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital in Saudi Arabia.
Patient selection: total laryngectomy patients in Saudi Arabia
Rate of readmission: 15%
Common causes of readmission:
(1) surgical site infection
(2) mucocutaneous fistula
(3) dysphagia
Predictors of readmission:
(1) tobacco use
(2) African ethnicity (versus Arab or Asian)
(3) unmarried status
(4) preoperative severe hypoalbuminemia (< 20 g/L, which would be severe)
(5) hypothyroidism, with higher preoperative serum TSH
(6) higher preoperative absolute neutrophil count (> 6.5 * 10^9/L)
(7) higher ASA status (ASA 3 or 4)
(8) higher comorbidity (using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale, CIRS)
