Schwam ZG, et al. - This research was executed in order to gauge the rate and timing of, along with the risk factors for, postoperative morbidity and mortality following otologic and neurotologic surgery. Higher adverse event rate was brought to light among the patients undergoing approaches to the skull base and neurotologic tumor resections. Open wounds were speculative of several postoperative complications. A link was noted between poor functional status with the mortality. It was recommended that patients presenting with prominent comorbidities ought to undergo early analysis in their postoperative course in order to prevent readmission, major morbidity and mortality.

Methods

• The design of this research was a retrospective cohort study.
• During this trial, 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, Χ².
• Multivariable logistic regressions were carried out.

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%.
• Nonetheless, it was considerably higher for LSB (24.2%) and lower for MEM (2.6%).
• The overall mortality rate was disclosed to be 1.4%. 40.4% of the cases reported postdischarge complications.
• 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) correlated with lower risk of experiencing a complication.
• A link was brought to light between impaired functional status (OR: 10.45, 95% CI: 3.65-29.89) with postoperative mortality.
• An open wound preoperatively was related to multiple causes of postoperative morbidity.