The influence of cardiovascular disease on duration of admission after DIEP flap breast reconstruction: A retrospective cohort study.

[OBJECTIVES] Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flaps are a preferred type of autologous breast reconstruction because of their relatively low rate of donor site complications. Comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension (HTN), influence the rate of post-operative complications, leading to increased length of stay (LOS). The Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) compiles readmission and LOS data in the USA. We aim to investigate the relationship between CVD and cardiovascular risk factors and the LOS after DIEP flap.

[METHODS] The NRD was queried from 2016 to 2020 using ICD-10 codes for DIEP flaps. The resulting dataset was analyzed for congestive heart failure (CHF), hypertension, obesity and diabetes. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to evaluate the influence of CVD on LOS.

[RESULTS] A total of 23,319 cases were identified; the average LOS without comorbidities was 4.15 days. Complicated HTN increased LOS by 1.17 days while uncomplicated HTN, CHF, complicated diabetes, morbid- and moderate obesity all significantly increased the length of stay by 0.09, 0.64, 0.40, 0.29 and 0.24 days, respectively (P<0.05). Out of 20,423 patients, 872 were readmitted within 90 days (4.3%). Main reasons for readmission were infection (83.8%), vascular complications (12.7%) and seroma (8.3%). Flap failure occurred 6 times.

[CONCLUSION] Results show that CVD increased the LOS after DIEP flap, with complicated HTN increasing LOS most by 1.17 days. This is clinically relevant due to the rising cost of healthcare and the shortage of healthcare workers.