Results:
There was a trend reduction in LOS from 10.75 to 7.95 days (p=0.635,
95% CI 0 – 1 day) with a significant reduction in mean LOS for
patients admitted for longer than seven days (7.84 days, p=0.025, 95%
CI for mean difference, 1.5 to 14 days). This group also benefited
reduced 30-day readmission rates (12/60 to 8/72, p=0.156, 95% CI -3%
to 21%). Trend reduction in the number of postoperative complications
was seen (1.09 to 0.86 per person, p=0.181, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.56),
which reached statistical significance in emergency vascular admissions
(1.81 to 0.97 per person, p=0.01, mean difference = 0.84, 95% CI 0.21
– 1.46).