Association of mobilization with postop complications

Editor's Note

This study led by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic examines the association between postoperative mobilization after major elective surgery and a composite of primary postoperative outcomes (ie, myocardial injury, ileus, stroke, venous thromboembolism, pulmonary complications, and all-cause in-hospital mortality) and secondary outcomes (ie, hospital length of stay, cumulative pain scores, and 30-day readmission).

A total of 8,653 patients were included in the analysis.

The researchers found that for each 4-minute-per-hour increase in mobilization:

• the odds of experiencing a composite of complications decreased 25%
• there was a median reduction in hospital length of stay by -0.12 days
• there was no association between mobilization and pain scores or 30-day readmissions.

The researchers concluded that more mobility was associated with fewer composite complications and shorter hospitalizations.