Use of a standardized discharge checklist with daily post-operative C-reactive protein monitoring does not impact readmission rates after colon and rectal surgery

Purpose Elevated CRP has been associated with infectious complications after colorectal surgery but has not been evaluated in a prospective fashion as part of a discharge checklist. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-component “discharge criteria checklist” that included daily use of CRP in decreasing hospital readmission rates after colorectal surgery. Methods This is a prospective before and after study design that included consecutive patients undergoing major colorectal operations at a single university-affiliated community hospital over a 2-year period. The primary outcome was inpatient or emergency department readmission after 30 days. Selected pre- and peri-operative factors associated with readmissions were then examined in a multivariate analysis model. Results The study included a total of 1546 patients. Surgical indications were inflammatory bowel disease (15%), colorectal cancer (24%), and benign disease (60%); 9.5% were emergencies. The readmission rates for each group were similar, 17.3% and 17.0%, for the control and discharge checklist groups, respectively ( p =0.88). On multivariate analysis of the discharge checklist group dataset, only age, sex, surgical acuity and operating time were statistically significant risk factors. The difference of median CRP values on the day of discharge of those readmitted compared to those not readmitted (35 vs 32 mg/L) was not statistically significant ( p =0.28). Conclusions The institution of a “discharge checklist” did not impact post-operative hospital readmissions. Not only were readmissions unchanged by the use of a CRP threshold at discharge, but CRP levels at the time of discharge were not associated with readmissions.