Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
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J. Gastrointest. Surg. · Oct 2011
Depression is associated with prolonged and complicated recovery following colorectal surgery.
There are little data regarding the impact of depression on outcomes after gastrointestinal surgery. We hypothesize that depression would be associated with prolonged hospital stay and changes in discharge disposition for patients undergoing colon and rectal surgery. ⋯ Among patients undergoing colorectal surgery, depression is associated with a significantly prolonged hospital stay and higher likelihood of requiring skilled nursing assistance after discharge. Further research into the mechanism underlying these differences and potential treatment strategies among depressed patients is warranted.