Thirty-day morbidity and mortality following otologic/neurotologic surgery: Analysis of the national surgical quality improvement program.

Objectives/hypothesis: To determine the rate and timing of, as well as risk factors for, postoperative morbidity and mortality following otologic and neurotologic surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: A total of 1,381 patients were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program for the years 2005 to 2010. Simple summary statistics, χ , and multivariable logistic regression were performed.

Results: Lateral skull base/neurotologic tumor resection (LSB) was done in 35.9%, and middle ear/mastoid procedures (MEM) were performed in 63.5%. The overall adverse event rate was 10.4%, although it was significantly higher for LSB (24.2%) and lower for MEM (2.6%). The overall mortality rate was 1.4%. Complications occurred postdischarge in 40.4% of cases. The outpatient setting (odds ratio [OR]: 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15-0.65) and undergoing MEM (OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.12-0.47) were associated with lower risk of experiencing a complication. Impaired functional status (OR: 10.45, 95% CI: 3.65-29.89) was associated with postoperative mortality. An open wound preoperatively was associated with multiple causes of postoperative morbidity.

Conclusions: Patients undergoing approaches to the skull base and neurotologic tumor resections had the higher adverse event rate. Open wounds were predictive of several postoperative complications, and poor functional status was associated with mortality. Patients with significant comorbidities should be evaluated early on in their postoperative course to prevent readmission as well as major morbidity and mortality.

Level Of Evidence: 2b. Laryngoscope, 128:1431-1437, 2018.