Safety and factors associated with early discharge in revisional laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: analysis of the MBSAQIP database.

BACKGROUND

Improvements in bariatric surgery outcomes have prompted policy initiatives that explore shifting bariatric surgery toward outpatient procedures. While the safety of early discharge after primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) has been reported, its safety for revisional LRYGB remains uncertain. Our study aimed to investigate the safety and patient factors associated with early discharge in patients undergoing revisional LRYGB compared with primary LRYGB.

METHODS

We identified adult patients who underwent primary and revisional LRYGB from 2020 to 2022 in the MBSAQIP database. Patients discharged early, i.e., same-day discharge (SDD) and next-day discharge (NDD) were compared to inpatients. Outcomes included 30-day complications (minor = Clavien-Dindo 1-2; major = Clavien-Dindo 3-4), mortality, readmissions, and reoperations. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for patient demographics, comorbidities, and operative time were fitted to assess the study outcomes.

RESULTS

SDD rate was similar after primary (3,422/137,406; 2.5%) and revisional LRYGB (781/32,721; 2.4%), while NDD rate was higher in primary LRYGB (59.8% vs 54.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). SDD patients had lower odds of major complications compared to inpatients following primary (2% vs 7%, aOR: 0.30, 95%CI 0.24-0.38) and revisional LRYGB (3.7% vs 9.3%, aOR: 0.43, 95%CI 0.29-0.62, respectively). NDD patients had similarly lower odds of morbidity outcomes. ASA Classification IV/V was associated with lower odds of SDD compared to Class I/II (Primary: 0.9% vs. 3%, aOR: 0.61, 95% CI 0.48-0.78; Revisions: 0.9% vs. 3%, aOR: 0.24, 95%CI 0.10-0.55).

CONCLUSION

Early discharge after revisional LRYGB, particularly after an overnight stay, can be accomplished safely in carefully selected patients. However, SDD rates remain low limiting its safety assessment. Further, almost half of the patients stay more than 48 h in the hospital suggesting that policy initiatives toward outpatient management after bariatric surgery may be inappropriate for this patient population.