Hospital readmission and 30-day mortality after surgery for oral cavity cancer: Analysis of 21,681 cases

Abstract

Background Oral cavity squamous cell cancer (SCC) is treated primarily with surgery. Rates of 30-day hospital readmission and mortality after surgery for oral cavity SCC are unknown. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of postoperative 30-day unplanned readmission and mortality in patients with oral cavity SCC in the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). Results Among 21,681 cases, the 30-day unplanned readmission rate was 3.2%, and the 30-day mortality rate was 1.0%. Male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 1.23; p =.02), stage T3 (OR = 1.55; p =.007), or T4 (OR = 1.52; p =.002), and neck dissection (OR = 1.37; p =.04) were independently associated with readmission. Age 76 to 85 years (OR = 4.80; p 85 years (OR = 10.24; p