Predictors of 30-day Hospital Readmission after Autologous vs. Implant-based Breast Reconstruction: A 16-year Analysis of 175,474 Patients

Objectives: Comorbidities that impair wound healing, increase infection risk, and compromise tissue viability influence rates of hospital readmission after autologous reconstruction and implant-based reconstruction. This study aimed to evaluate patient factors that increase risk for 30-day hospital readmission after autologous reconstruction and implant-based reconstruction and identify differences in the comorbidities that affect readmission risk after each method.Methods: Patients from 2005 to 2021 were selected by autologous reconstruction and implant-based reconstruction current procedural terminology codes from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. A multivariable regression model identified the significant predictors of unplanned readmission.Results: Comorbidities that increase risk for readmission after autologous reconstruction but not implant-based reconstruction include dialysis (OR 3.87, p = 0.042) and malnutrition (OR 3.20, p = 0.003). Risk factors for readmission after implant-based reconstruction but not autologous reconstruction include bleeding disorder (OR 2.62, p < 0.0001), previous infection (OR 1.49, p = 0.045), recent sepsis (OR 2.16 p = 0.0003), anemia (OR 1.13, p = 0.0018), and hypoalbuminemia (OR 1.35, p = 0.0213). Predictors of unplanned readmission after both methods include chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, obesity, inpatient status prior to procedure, Black or White race, chronic steroid use, smoking, diabetes, and hypertension.Conclusions: These findings may be used to individualize preoperative discussions and help guide optimization of risk factors. In addition, while autologous reconstruction and implant-based reconstruction are often combined into one category for discussion of factors that increase complication risk, our study suggests that the types of reconstruction differ with regard to the comorbidities that increase risk for hospital readmission.