Readmission rates after major abdominal surgery have a significant impact on hospital costs and quality of care. Identification of risk factors for readmission may improve postoperative care and discharge plans.

One hundred fifty consecutive patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge after intestinal surgery (RD) were compared with matched nonreadmitted patients. Patient-related (demographic, comorbidity, medications), disease-related (diagnosis, type of surgery), and perioperative course variables were collected for logistic regression analysis.

RD was associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (odds ratio [OR] 7.12 and 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–37.6), worse functional capacity class (OR 2.02 and CI 1.15–3.56), previous anticoagulant therapy (OR 4.85 and CI 1.2–19.7), steroid treatment, and discharge to a facility other than home (OR 4.35 and CI 0.97–20.0, P = .055). In patients with intestinal perforation, RD rate was decreased (OR 0.3 and CI 0.1–0.9), but this was associated with a longer primary hospital stay (median 8 vs. 6 days, P = .12). RD causes included surgical site septic complications (33%), ileus and/or small-bowel obstruction (23%), medical complications (24%), and others (20%).

Functional capacity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, previous anticoagulant therapy, perioperative steroids, and discharge destination are independent predictors of RD. Disease-related factors have minor impact on RD rates. Improving functional status before surgery, decreasing the adverse impact of steroids, and/or stratifying perioperative anticoagulant use may decrease unexpected readmissions in this patient population.