Background: Surgical-site infection is a major concern in prosthetic-based breast reconstruction. Thirty-day postoperative readmission rates are a common quality metric, but little is known about readmission rates for later infections. Methods: Using the 2013 to 2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database, the authors identified breast cancer patients undergoing breast reconstruction with implants and tissue expanders who had an infectious readmission. The authors used univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to identify predictors of infectious readmission and explantation within the early (0 to 30 days) and late (31 to 90 days) postoperative periods. Results: In the weighted sample, the authors identified 18,338 patients undergoing prosthetic-based breast reconstruction. The overall infectious readmission rate was 4.1 percent (n = 759): 49.3 percent occurred early and 50.7 percent occurred late. Of the infectious readmissions, 39.5 percent required explantation, 55.1 percent of which occurred during a late infectious readmission. Seventy-five percent of these infectious readmissions and explantations occurred within 49 days of initial surgery. Median annual household income less than $40,000 (p = 0.035), diabetes (p = 0.038), and obesity (p = 0.004) were independent predictors of infectious readmission. Diabetes (p = 0.049) and hypertension (p = 0.011) were independent predictors of early readmission. Median annual household income less than $40,000 (p = 0.049), obesity (p = 0.006), and increasing length of stay during the index procedure (p = 0.028) were independent predictors of late readmission. No statistically significant independent predictors for explantation were identified. Conclusions: Traditional 30-day readmission rates are not an adequate quality metric for breast reconstruction given the number of late postoperative readmissions, many of which lead to explantation. Early and late infectious readmissions have different predictors. Interventions targeting these predictors may decrease the number of readmissions, thus reducing cost and improving quality. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

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BACKGROUND: The efficacy of intrathecal drug delivery (IDD) for cancer-related pain is well established. Cancer therapies are often associated with immunosuppression and increased risk of infection, and the rate of infection after intrathecal drug delivery system (IDDS) implant in cancer patients has been reported as 2.4%–6.3%. Our objective is to report on the rate of surgical site infections (SSI) in patients implanted with IDDS for cancer-related pain and to provide a data-driven discussion on the relationship between antineoplastic treatment, leukopenia, and other clinical or demographic characteristics and SSI. METHODS: Following local institutional review board approval, we conducted a retrospective chart review of IDDS implants from May 2014 through December 2018. Data collected included demographic data, health status, prophylactic antibiotic administration, surgery duration, presence of leukopenia (white blood cell [WBC] count of <4.0 K/µL) or moderate neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count [ANC] of <1000/μL) within the 30 days before IDDS implant, and details of antineoplastic treatment or systemic corticosteroid use in the perioperative period. This information was assessed in relation to SSI incidence up to 6 months following implant. RESULTS: Two hundred seventeen IDDS implants were identified. A majority of patients (79.3%) received ≥1 form of antineoplastic therapy within 30 days before or after implant, and 42.4% received multiple forms of antineoplastic therapy. Therapies included chemotherapy in 46.5%, immunotherapy in 28.6%, systemic steroids in 32.3%, and radiation therapy in 28.1%. One-quarter of patients (25.8%) were leukopenic within 30 days before implant, with 3.2% having moderate neutropenia. There were 2 infectious complications representing an infection rate of 0.9% (95% CI, 0.1%–3.3%), with limited shared characteristics between those experiencing SSI. CONCLUSIONS: SSI risk after IDDS placement for cancer pain is low, despite frequent concurrent antineoplastic therapy and leukopenia in the perioperative period. Concomitant cancer therapies should not be a barrier to the implementation of IDD for cancer pain.

Background Traditionally, surgical quality outcomes are assessed using a 30-day postoperative window. For breast cancer patients undergoing free tissue transfer for breast reconstruction, we sought to describe the distribution of and specific risk factors for early and late readmissions within a 0- to 90-day postoperative period. Patients and Methods The Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to conduct a retrospective cohort study. Breast cancer patients undergoing free tissue transfer for breast reconstruction were identified using International Classification of Diseases -9 diagnosis and procedure codes. Ninety-day readmissions related to infection or wound complications were identified. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify patient risk factors for readmissions that occurred early (0–30 days) and late (31–90 days) after their index procedure. Results In the weighted sample, we identified approximately 7,305 free flap breast reconstructions and a surgical wound-related readmission rate of 4.3% (n = 312): 65.4% of the readmissions occurred early while 34.6% occurred late after surgery. The mean days to readmission was 26, and 75% of all readmissions occurred within the first 36 days after surgery. Variables independently associated with readmissions during the 0- to 90-day postoperative period included: history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.036), hypertension (p = 0.03), obesity (p ≤ 0.001), and history of smoking (p = 0.004). The variables independently associated with the early readmission period were the same as those identified for the 0- to 90-day postoperative period. The variables independently associated with late readmissions were different: history of depression (p = 0.001) and history of smoking (p = 0.001). Conclusion The conventional 30-day hospital readmission rate classically used as a quality metric is overlooking a significant portion of admissions after free flap-based breast reconstruction. Different variables were found to be associated with readmission in the early versus late cohorts. Interventions targeting these variables could decrease readmissions and their associated costs.