Short summary

We conducted a retrospective single-center study by reviewing departmental records of 310 consecutive patients treated with radical cystectomy between July 2011 and December 2016. The indication was non-metastatic bladder cancer; other indications were excluded (n=4). Patients were stratified into two groups based on their length of stay: under 12 and over 12 days, and descriptive statistics were applied to compare all perioperative variables between groups. Univariate and multivariate were used to determine associations by means of odds ratios. The objective of this study is to investigate perioperative outcomes to identify predictors which contribute to prolonged length of stay in patients undergoing radical cystectomy.

Rationale

Radical cystectomy with urinary diversion is the standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer and for selected patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive disease not controlled by conventional therapy. Despite improvements in surgical technique and perioperative management over the last two decades, radical cystectomy is still associated with higher morbidity and longer hospitalization that other urological procedures. The objective of this study is to investigate perioperative outcomes to identify predictors which contribute to prolonged length of stay in patients undergoing radical cystectomy.

Description of the cohort

The cohort included patients treated with radical cystectomy identified from the Urology Department database at Odense University Hospital. The study was limited to patients diagnosed with non-metastatic bladder cancer whether treated for muscle-invasive or non-invasive muscle disease. Other indications were excluded (n=4).

Data and biological material

Data were retrospectively retrieved from departmental medical records. Using REDCap tool, a database was created in which clinical as pathological variables were recorded for the two groups. Baseline demographics included sex, age at the time of surgery, BMI, smoking status, medical comorbidities etc. Intraoperative outcomes were comprehensive of surgical technique, type of urinary diversion, operating time, estimated blood loss etc. Postoperative characteristics included length of stay, readmissions within 30 days after discharge, complications within 5 postoperative days, time until liquid diet intake/solid diet intake/bedside mobilization/hallway mobilization/time until first passage of flatus etc.

Collaborating researchers and departments

Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark and Hospital Pharmacy, Odense University Hospital

• Anton Pottegård

Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark

• Thor Jensen
• Per Holt

Hospital Pharmacy, Odense University Hospital

• Iselin Gaustad