Why are patients readmitted? an analysis of adverse events leading to readmission, reintervention, or reoperation after bariatric surgery

Background: To compare the 30-day adverse events after bariatric surgery and to identify the underlying risk factors. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a prospectively maintained database of obese patients who had undergone either a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) at our hospital between 2011 and 2015. Patients who presented with adverse events within 30 days after bariatric surgery were identified and stratified based on the type of surgical procedure - SG versus RYGB - and the most significant causes were reported according to treatment method: readmission, reintervention, or reoperation. Results: Of the 1576 patients who underwent bariatric surgery, 1265 underwent SG and 311 underwent RYGB. The combined overall 30-day rate of readmission, reintervention, and reoperation was 5.1% (n = 81: SG = 52, RYGB = 29), and the rate for each group was 1.9%, 1.8%, and 1.5%, respectively. Overall, patients who underwent RYGB were more likely to suffer from 30-day adverse events than SG patients (odds ratio [OR]: 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5-3.8; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The rate of 30-day adverse events was low following both SG and RYGB, but the risk was significantly higher after RYGB.