A total of 250 patients were initially identified and 83 were excluded due to incomplete data. The remaining 167 patients were compared to 167 elective colorectal surgery patients from before the PSH period, for a total patient population of 334 patients.
The average age was higher in the control group than that of the PSH (65.4 vs 61.6 years, p < 0.001). The distribution of patients in various BMI categories was similar (p = 0.68) and there were equal numbers of males and females in each group (49.7% female, 50.3% male, p = 0.544) (Table 1).
Table 1
Baseline Demographic Data
| Surgical Home | Control | P Value |
Age (Years) | 61.55 | 65.37 | < 0.001 |
BMI | N (%) | N (%) | 0.676 |
<18.5 | 2 (1.2%) | 1 (0.6%) | |
18.5–24.9 | 43 (25.7%) | 42 (25.1%) | |
25-29.9 | 54 (32.3%) | 64 (38.3%) | |
30-34.9 | 39 (23.4%) | 34 (20.4%) | |
35-39.9 | 17 (10.2%) | 11 (6.6%) | |
>40 | 12 (7.2%) | 15 (9%) | |
Gender (%) | | | 0.544 |
F | 49.7 | 49.7 | |
M | 50.3 | 50.3 | |
Although there were similar numbers of diabetics in the two groups (24.5% vs 24.5%, p = 0.551) there was a higher proportion of those with poor gylcemic control pre-operatively in the control group than the PSH group (21.8% vs 8.4%, p = 0.001). There was also a trend towards more active smokers in the PSH although this did not reach statistical significance (21.0% vs 13.8%, p = 0.056). The rates of other comorbidities were all similar between the two groups. Most notable, the pre-operative rates of anemia (33.7% PSH vs 36.4% control, p = 0.350) and malnutrition (25.3% PSH vs 23.0% control, p = 0.360) were comparable. (Table 2). There was also no significant differences in the distribution of patients along ASA categories. (Table 3)
Table 2
| Surgical Home N (%) | Control N (%) | P Value |
COPD | 14 (8.38%) | 17 (10.18%) | 0.353 |
DM | 41 (24.55%) | 41 (24.55%) | 0.551 |
Poorly . Controlled | 14 (8.4%) | 36 (21.8%) | 0.001 |
CAD or CHF | 39 (23.35%) | 31 (18.56%) | 0.173 |
Anemia | 56 (33.7%) | 60 (36.4%) | 0.350 |
Malnutrition | 41 (25.31%) | 37 (22.98%) | 0.360 |
OSA | 18 (10.7%) | 16 (9.58%) | 0.428 |
Smoking | 35 (20.96)% | 23 (13.77)% | 0.056 |
Table 3
| Surgical Home N (%) | Control N (%) |
1 | 1 (0.6%) | 4 (2.4%) |
2 | 67 (40.12%) | 74 (44.31%) |
3 | 95 (56.88%) | 82 (49.1%) |
4 | 4 (2.4%) | 7 (4.19%) |
p = 0.270 | |
The distribution of patients undergoing open, laparoscopic or robotic surgery was different between the two groups (p = 0.001). The rates of open surgery were comparable between the groups (24% PSH vs 27.5% control), but there were more robotic cases in the PSH group than the pre-PSH group (42.5% vs 24%) and fewer laparoscopic (33.5% vs 48.5%). (Table 4)
Table 4
| Surgical Home N (%) | Control N (%) |
Open | 40 (24.0%) | 46 (27.5%) |
Laparoscopic | 56 (33.5%) | 81 (48.5%) |
Robotic | 71 (42.5%) | 40 (24.0%) |
P = 0.001 |
A higher proportion of patients underwent partial colectomies in the PSH group (29.3% vs 14.4%). However, the type of resection was similar between the PSH and control groups (Table 5). In addition, the rate of ostomy formation was similar (18.7% PSH vs 17.4% control, p = 0.433).
Table 5
| Surgical Home N (%) | Control N (%) |
Right Colectomy | 51 (30.5%) | 61 (36.5%) |
Abdominal Perineal Resection | 10 (6%) | 7 (4.2%) |
Low Anterior Resection | 40 (24%) | 53 (31.7%) |
Partial Colectomy | 49 (29.3%) | 24 (14.4%) |
Subtotal or Proctocolectomy | 3 (1.8%) | 4 (2.4%) |
Ostomy Reversal | 14 (8.4%) | 18 (10.8%) |
P = 0.029 |
There was no difference in indication for operation (p = 0.12). These included malignant neoplasm (47.3% vs 59.9%), large benign polyps (20% vs 12%), inflammatory bowel disease (1.8% vs 1.2%), diverticulitis (25.5% vs 24%) and other diagnoses (5.5% vs 3.0%). (Table 6)
Table 6
| Surgical Home N (%) | Control N (%) |
Neoplasm | 78 (47.3%) | 100 (59.9%) |
Benign Polyp | 33 (20.0%) | 20 (12.0%) |
Inflammatory Bowel Disease | 3 (1.8%) | 2 (1.2%) |
Diverticulitis | 42 (25.5%) | 40 (24.0%) |
Other | 9 (5.5%) | 5 (3.0%) |
p = 0.121 |
Evaluation of compliance with interventions when available noted that 100% of PSH patients who had OSA were ordered to have CPAP available for the patient. In the pre-PSH only 68% of the patients with OSA had an order stating that the patient should use their home CPAP or be offered one by the hospital. Similarly, 82% of smokers were formally referred for smoking cessation counseling in the PSH group, compared to 61% of the pre-PSH.
Of our primary outcomes, the re-admissions in 30 days decreased from 15.0–10.2% after the implementation of the PSH (p = 0.12) and the ED visits in 30 days decreased from 19.8–15.6% (p = 0.20). Of our secondary outcomes there was no statistical difference between the PSH and the control group in the rate of transfusions, pneumonias, myocardial infarctions, urinary tract infections, ileus, wound infections, abscesses, leaks, returns to the OR or death. New onset a-fib trended towards a significant difference (p = 0.061) with 2.4% in the control group and 0% in the PSH group. (Table 7) There were no strokes within 30 days in either group.
Table 7
| Surgical Home N (%) | Control N (%) | P Value |
Primary Endpoints |
ED Visit | 26 (15.6%) | 33 (19.8%) | 0.195 |
Readmission | 17 (10.2%) | 25 (15.0%) | 0.124 |
Secondary Endpoints |
Conversion to Open | 8 (4.8%) | 23 (13.8%) | 0.004 |
Transfusion | 11 (6.59%) | 9 (5.39%) | 0.409 |
PNA | 3 (1.8%) | 5 (3.0%) | 0.362 |
MI | 0 (0%) | 2 (1.2%) | 0.249 |
New a-fib | 0 (0%) | 4 (2.4%) | 0.061 |
UTI | 5 (3.0%) | 3 (1.8%) | 0.362 |
Ileus | 25 (15.0%) | 24 (14.4%) | 0.500 |
Wound Infection | 12 (7.2%) | 13 (7.8%) | 0.500 |
Abscess | 7 (4.2%) | 5 (3.0%) | 0.385 |
Leak | 5 (3.0%) | 5 (3.0%) | 0.621 |
RTOR | 8 (4.8%) | 8 (4.8%) | 0.601 |
Death | 1 (0.6%) | 2 (1.2%) | 0.988 |
The LOS in the PSH patients had a median of 3 days with the 25th percentile staying 2 days and the 75th percentile staying 5 days. The control group also stayed for a median of 3 days but the 25th percentile also had a 3 day stay and the 75th percentile had a 6 day stay. This distribution showed a longer LOS overall in the control group that was statistically significant with p = 0.004. (Table 8)
Table 8
| Surgical Home | Control |
Median (days) | 3 | 3 |
25th Percentile (days) | 2 | 3 |
75th Percentile (days) | 5 | 6 |
P = 0.004 |
The total number of conversions to open from minimally invasive procedures was 8 (4.8%) in the PSH group and 23 (13.8%) in the control group (p = 0.004). Of these conversions in the PSH 5 of the 56 laparoscopic surgeries converted to open and 3 of the 71 robotic surgeries converted to open. In the control group 17 of the 81 laparoscopic surgeries converted to open and 6 of the 40 robotic surgeries converted. (Table 9)
Table 9
| Surgical Home | Control | P Value |
Total conversions | 8 (4.8%) | 23 (13.8%) | 0.0004 |
Laparoscopic Converted | 5/56 | 17/81 | |
Robotic Converted | 3/71 | 6/40 | |