Nath, Bharath D.Li, YouFuCarroll, James E. Jr.Szabo, GyongyiTseng, Jennifer F.Shah, Shimul A.2022-08-232022-08-232010-09-152011-03-09J Gastrointest Surg. 2010 Nov;14(11):1732-41. Epub 2010 Sep 14. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11605-010-1350-4">Link to article on publisher's site</a>1091-255X (Linking)10.1007/s11605-010-1350-420839071https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/31170BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Alcohol consumption is a well-documented determinant of adverse perioperative outcome. We sought to determine the effect of active alcohol consumption following elective surgery. METHODS: We queried discharge records from the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP, 2005-2007) for all elective adult admissions. The 7,631 (2.5%) patients with documented alcohol use (active alcohol use of at least two drinks per day within 2 weeks of surgery; ETOH use) underwent elective surgery; 301,994 (97.5%) patients denied ETOH use. Multivariate analysis was performed with adjustments for demographic and comorbid factors. Primary outcome measures included length of stay (LOS), postoperative complications, and death. RESULTS: ETOH use associated with elective surgery decreased over the course of the study (p < 0.0001). ETOH use was an independent predictor of pneumonia (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.84-2.13), sepsis (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.03-1.37), superficial surgical site infection (SSI; OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02-1.31), wound disruption (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.11-1.80), and prolonged LOS (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.08-1.26). Except for SSI, these complications were independent risk factors for postoperative mortality. ETOH use was associated with earlier time to wound disruption (9 vs. 11 days; p = 0.04), longer median hospital stays (5 vs. 3 days; p < 0.0001), and longer LOS after operation (4 vs. 3 days; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Active alcohol consumption is a significant determinant of adverse outcomes in elective surgery; patients with ETOH use who are scheduled to undergo elective surgery should be appropriately educated and counseled.en-USAdolescentAdultAgedAlcohol DrinkingFemaleHumansLength of StayMaleMiddle Aged*Postoperative ComplicationsRisk Factors*Surgical Procedures, ElectiveYoung AdultGastroenterologyJournal Articlehttps://escholarship.umassmed.edu/gastroenterology_pp/931862011gastroenterology_pp/93