Increased Mortality and Complications Associated with Care Fragmentation in Ileostomy Patients

A study analyzing hospitalizations for ileostomy creation found that care fragmentation, defined as receiving care at a different facility than where the index ileostomy was performed, was associated with higher mortality rates and increased risk of postoperative complications such as cardiac, respiratory, infectious, and thromboembolic complications. Patients experiencing care fragmentation also had higher hospitalization costs. The findings underscore the importance of improving care continuity and inter-hospital communication to mitigate risks and optimize healthcare delivery for care-fragmented populations.