A new study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine examines hospital-acquired conditions for spinal tumor resection patients.
Study authors gathered data from the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for 2008 to 2014 and found 2,170 patients that met inclusion criteria. Here are the key findings:
1. Of all the patients studied, 9 percent developed a hospital-acquired condition.
2. The two perioperative variables identified as risk factors for hospital-acquired conditions were:
• Functional dependency
• High BMI
3. Study authors found the hospital-acquired conditions independently predicted all outcomes and complications, which include:
• Death
• Prolonged patient stay
• Readmission
4. Variables beyond hospital-associated factors could play a role in developing hospital-acquired conditions, although comorbidities assessed in the study weren't strongly predictive of hospital-acquired conditions.
5. Study authors concluded, "These findings highlight the need for continued development of evidence-based protocols designed to reduce the incidence and severity of HACs."