Journal of vascular surgery
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Hospital readmissions after surgical operations are considered serious complications and have an impact on health care-associated costs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services strongly encourage identification and ramification of factors associated with hospital readmissions after operations. Despite advances in endovascular surgery, lower extremity arterial bypass remains the "gold standard" treatment for severe, symptomatic peripheral arterial disease. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review the factors associated with hospital readmission after lower extremity bypass surgery. ⋯ Readmission after lower extremity bypass surgery is a serious complication. Various factors put a patient at high risk for readmission. Return to the operating room, wound infection, amputation, deep venous thrombosis, and major reintervention on bypass are independent risk factors for hospital readmission. Return to the operating room is associated with a 5.95-fold increase in hospital readmission.