Robotically assisted hysterectomy patients more likely to need follow-up care

Editor's Note

Women who had robotically assisted hysterectomies were 24% to 32% more likely to return to the hospital for follow-up care, including readmission, emergency department care, or an outpatient department procedure, finds this study.

Common reasons for follow-up care included:

• surgical complications
• hospital-acquired infections
• postoperative pain
• pulmonary embolisms
• digestive disorders.

The study included Agency for Healthcare Research Quality (AHRQ) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data for more than 86,000 inpatient hysterectomies in eight states and more than 29,000 outpatient hysterectomies in four states.

Objectives: To compare the rates of hospital readmissions, emergency department, and outpatient clinic visits after discharge for robotically assisted (RA) versus nonrobotic hysterectomy in women age 30 or more with nonmalignant conditions. Data Sources: Discharges for 2011 for 8 states (CA, FL, GA, IA, MO, NE, NY, TN) (>86,000 inpatient hysterectomies) were drawn from the statewide databases of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project.