Postoperative stay following colorectal surgery: a study of factors associated with prolonged hospital stay

Aim: To study the factors that contribute to postoperative stay following colorectal surgery. Design: A prospective observational study. Setting: Three colorectal surgical units - a teaching hospital, a large district general hospital and a district general hospital. Participants: 350 patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Main outcome measures: 28 pre-, peri- and postoperative patient- and treatment-related factors. Results: Stepwise regression analysis suggests that the factors that significantly lengthen postoperative stay include a low albumin on admission, stoma formation, operative blood loss, urinary and respiratory complications, wound infections, postoperative ventilation and social delay at the time of discharge. The postoperative stay was not affected by patient age or by the seniority of the surgical team. Conclusions: Factors have been identified that determine the postoperative length of stay. These data may allow better planning and treatment of patients undergoing colorectal surgery.