Early discharge on postoperative day 1 following lobectomy for stage I non-small-cell lung cancer is safe in high-volume surgical centres: a national cancer database analysis.

Objectives: Shortening hospital length of stay after lobectomy for stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a challenge, and the literature regarding factors associated with safe early discharge is limited. We sought to evaluate the safety of postoperative day (POD) 1 discharge after lobectomy and its correlation with institutional caseload using the National Cancer Database, jointly sponsored by the American College of Surgeons and the American Cancer Society.

Methods: We identified patients with stage I NSCLC (tumour ≤4 cm, clinical N0, M0) in the National Cancer Database who underwent lobectomy from 2010 to 2015. Hospital surgical volume was assigned based on total surgical volume for lung cancer. The cohort was divided into 2 groups: POD 1 discharge [length of stay (LOS) ≤ 1] and the standard discharge (LOS > 1). Outcome variables were compared in propensity matched cohorts, and the multivariable regression model was created to assess factors associated with LOS ≤ 1 and the occurrence of adverse events (unplanned readmissions, 30- and 90-day deaths).

Results: A total of 52 830 patients underwent lobectomy for stage I NSCLC across 1231 treating facilities; 3879 (7.3%) patients were discharged on day 1 (LOS ≤ 1), whereas 48 951 (92.7%) were discharged after day 1 (LOS > 1). Factors associated with LOS ≤ 1 included male sex, higher socioeconomic status, right middle lobectomy, minimally invasive surgery and high-volume centres. The risk of adverse events was higher for LOS ≤ 1 in low [odds ratio (OR): 1.913, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.448-2.527; P < 0.001] and median quartiles (OR: 2.258; 95% CI 1.881-2.711; P < 0.001), but equivalent in high-volume centres (OR: 0.871, 95% CI 0.556-1.364; P = 0.54).

Conclusions: The safety and efficacy of early discharge on POD 1 following lobectomy are associated with lung cancer surgical volume. Implementation of 'enhanced recovery' protocols is likely related to safe early discharges from high-volume centres.