Background: Considerable public attention has focused on the use of outpatient mastectomy and has resulted in numerous legislative proposals to mandate a minimum hospital stay following mastectomy. To date, only limited scientific data are available regarding the use and the outcomes of outpatient mastectomy. The purpose of this study was to provide population-based information on trends and outcomes for outpatient mastectomy in elderly women.
Methods: Medicare data for elderly women with fee-for-service coverage were examined for trends and regional variation in the use of outpatient mastectomy. Logistic regression was used to identify patient and provider characteristics associated with having an outpatient mastectomy, and outcomes were assessed by calculating the risk of being rehospitalized and the reasons for rehospitalization.
Results: From 1986 through 1995, the proportion of mastectomies performed on an outpatient basis increased from virtually 0% to 10.8%. Outpatient mastectomies were more likely to be performed on women with no coexisting health problems in hospitals that were for-profit or non-teaching or in large metropolitan statistical areas. Women undergoing outpatient mastectomy had substantially higher rates of rehospitalization within 30 days than women with a 1-day stay in the hospital. Both groups had comparable rates of rehospitalization for complications definitely related to their surgery. The percentage of women who required rehospitalization was low, and the actual number of women rehospitalized was relatively small.
Conclusions: We conclude that the risks from outpatient mastectomy are modest, although ongoing monitoring of outcomes and assessment of patient satisfaction are needed.