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).