ArticleAnnals of Saudi medicine
Outcomes of common general surgery procedures for patients discharged over weekends at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.
Article in Annals of Saudi medicine. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Retrospective analysis of general surgery outcomes in multicenter cohorts in Saudi Arabia.Journal of medicine and life · 2025Article
- Article
- Holiday ratio of hospitalization and 30-day readmission rates among cancer patients after major surgery.Cancer medicine · 2022Article
- Length of hospital stay after uncomplicated esophagectomy. Hospital variation shows room for nationwide improvement.Surgical endoscopy · 2021Article
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5 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHospitals usually reduce staffing levels and services over weekends. This raises the question of whether patients discharged over a weekend may be inadequately prepared and possibly at higher risk of adverse events post-discharge.
objectivesTo assess the outcomes of common general surgery procedures for patients discharged over weekends, and to identify the key predictors of early readmission.
designRetrospective cohort study.
settingA tertiary care center. PATIENTS AND
methodsPatients discharged from general surgery services during the one-year period between January and December 2016 after cholecystectomy, appendectomy, or hernia repairs were included. Patient demographic information, comorbidities, and complications as well as admission and follow-up details were collected from electronic medical records.
main outcome measuresOutcomes following weekend discharge, and the predictors of early readmission. SAMPLE SIZE: 743 patients.
resultsThe operations performed: 361 patients (48.6%) underwent a cholecystectomy, 288 (38.8%) an appendectomy, and 94 (12.6%) hernia repairs. A significantly lower number of patients were discharged over the weekend (n=125) compared to those discharged on weekdays (n=618). Patients discharged during the weekend were younger, less likely to have chronic diseases, and had a significantly shorter average length of stay (LOS) (median 2 days, IQR: 1, 4 vs. median 3 days, IQR: 1, 5, P=.002). Overall, the 30-day readmission rate was 3.2% (n=24), and weekend discharge (OR=2.25, 95% CI 0.52-9.70) or any other variable did not predict readmission in 30 days. However, 14-day post-discharge follow-up visits were significantly lower in the weekend discharge subgroup (83.1% vs. 91.2%, P=.006).
conclusionWeekend discharge was not associated with higher readmission rates. Physicians may consider discharging post-operative patients over a weekend without an increased risk to the patient. Day of discharge, length of stay and increased patient age are not predictors of early readmission. LIMITATIONS: Single-center study and retrospective. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.
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