Correlation between early surgical complications and readmission rate after ventral hernia repair

Purpose Postoperative surgical complications arising from ventral hernia repair have been assessed by a variety of outcome measures. The objective of this study was to correlate the Clavien Dindo Classification (CDC) graded complications with the 30-day readmission rate as early outcome measures in ventral hernia repair. Secondarily, we wanted to investigate whether the risk factors for Clavien Dindo class >= 1 and 30-day readmission were comparable. Methods Single-centre retrospective study including all patients (>= 18 years) who underwent ventral hernia repair between January 1, 2009 and September 1, 2014 at Zealand University Hospital. Data were obtained from hospital files and the Danish National Patient Registry. A 100% follow-up was obtained. Results In total, the study included 700 patients (261 patients with incisional hernia repair and 439 patients with umbilical or epigastric hernia repair). There was a significant association between a complication graded by the CDC >= 1 and 30-day readmission for both incisional and umbilical/epigastric hernia repair (p < 0.001). In incisional hernia, larger hernia size was an independent risk factor for CDC >= 1. No independent risk was found for 30-day readmission. Recurrent (vs. primary) hernia repair was an independent risk factors for both CDC >= 1 and 30-day readmission in umbilical/epigastric hernia repair. Furthermore, hernia size 2-7 cm (vs. > 2 cm) was a risk factor for CDC >= 1 but not for 30-day readmission in umbilical/epigastric hernia repair. Conclusion Reports on 30-day readmission can be used as a general outcome measure in ventral hernia repair, however CDC provides a more precise and detailed registration of postoperative complications.