Sociologic factors are major determinants of prolonged hospital stay after abdominal aneurysm repair

Background. With increasing pressure to optimize the utilization of hospital resources, it is important to identify patients who may have prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS). The purpose of this report was 50 identify. The preoperative variables that are predictive of prolonged postoperative hospital LOS for patients undergoing elective infrarenal abdominal aneurysm repair and to discuss strategies that might assist in minimizing LOS for these patients. Methods. Three hundred sixty-five consecutive patients underwent elective infrarenal abdominal aneurysm repair between 1989 and 1994. The relationship between 13 preoperative variables and LOS was analyzed by using both univariate (Kaplan-Meier) and multivariate (Cox regression) statistical techniques. Results. By using Cox regression a model was developed to estimate LOS (p < 0.001) for model). The independent predictors for prolonged LOS were (1) age older than 70 years and (2) absence of a spouse. Conclusions. Knowledge of the predictive factors that are associated with prolonged LOS should identify those patients who may require prompt and efficient discharge planning, early consultation with a home care nurse, or transfer to a convalescent facility. This approach may significantly improve the utilization of hospital resources.