Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) from 2010-2018 was queried using the ICD-9/10 codes in primary diagnosis and procedure field to identify all patients ≥ 18 years who were readmitted within 30 days after hospitalization for LITT for refractory epilepsy. Incidence, etiologies of 30-day readmission and predictors of 30-day readmissions were analyzed.

Among 9763 patients with index admission for (LITT), 945 (9.7%) patients were readmitted within 30 days. Hypertension (24.4%), diabetes mellitus (25.28%), Anemia (10.9%) and Chronic kidney disease (3.1%) were the major comorbidities with significantly higher prevalence among the readmitted group. Compared with the non-readmitted group, the readmitted group had higher incidence of post-operative blood transfusion, CNS infections and CNS complications. Readmissions within 30 days were associated with longer length of stay (6 vs 4 days), greater mean costs ($55021 vs $50898), and increased adverse discharges (11.2% vs 7%) during index hospitalizations.  Epilepsy was the most common cause of readmission (24.8%) followed by post-operative infections (22.6%). Hypertension, Anemia, post-operative blood transfusion and CNS infections during index hospitalization predicted higher 30-day readmissions, whereas private insurance (compared to Medicare/Medicaid) correlated with lower 30-day readmission.