Emergency department visits and unanticipated readmissions after liver transplantation: A retrospective observational study

Abstract

Improved survival after LT are likely to result in increased healthcare resource utilization. The pattern and risk factors of emergency department (ED) visits and unanticipated readmissions, associated cost, and predictors of healthcare resource utilization after liver transplantation (LT) patients who received LT between 2011 and 2014 were analyzed. A total of 430 LT recipients were enrolled and the 1 year all-cause mortality was 1.4%. ED visits occurred in 53% (229/430) and unanticipated readmissions occurred at least once in 58.6% (252/430) of the patients. Overall risk factors for ED visits after LT included emergency operation [OR 1.56 (95%CI 1.02-2.37), p = 0.038] and warm ischemic time of >15 minutes [OR 2.36 (95%CI 1.25-4.47), p = 0.015]. Risk factors for readmissions after LT included greater estimated blood loss during LT [OR 1.09 (95%CI 1.02-1.17), p = 0.012], warm ischemic time of >15 minutes [OR 1.98 (95%CI 1.04-3.78), p = 0.038], and hospital length of stay of >2 weeks.