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Adesanya AM, Best KE, Coats L, Rankin J. Predictors of Post-Operative Hospital Length of Stay Following Complete Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot in a Pediatric Cohort in the North of England. Pediatr Cardiol 2024; 45:92-99. [PMID: 37698700 PMCID: PMC10776676 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-023-03287-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
We sought to estimate the median post-operative length of stay (PLOS) and predictors of PLOS following tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) repair at a specialist surgical center in the North of England. The local National Congenital Heart Disease Audit dataset was used to identify patients aged < 2 years who underwent surgical repair for ToF between 1 January 1986 and 13 May 2022. Coefficients representing the median change in PLOS (days) according to predictors were estimated using Quantile regression. There were 224 patients (59.4% male, median age = 9 months, interquartile range (IQR) 5-13 months) with a median PLOS of 9 days (IQR 7-13). In the univariable regression, age (months) and weight (kg) at operation (β = - 0.17, 95% CI: - 0.33, - 0.01) and (β = - 0.53, 95% CI: - 0.97, - 0.10), previous (cardiac or thoracic) procedure (β = 5, 95% CI:2.38, 7.62), procedure urgency (elective vs urgent) (β = 2.8, 95% CI:0.39, 5.21), bypass time (mins) (β = 0.03, 95% CI:0.01, 0.05), cross-clamp time (mins) (β = 0.03, 95% CI:0.01, 0.06) and duration of post-operative intubation (days) (β = 0.81, 95% CI:0.67, 0.96), were significantly associated with PLOS. Previous procedure and intubation time remained significant in multivariable analyses. Some patient and operative factors can predict PLOS following complete ToF repair. Information on PLOS is important for health professionals to support parents in preparing for their child's discharge and to make any necessary practical arrangements. Health commissioners can draw on evidence-based guidance for resource planning. The small sample size may have reduced the power to detect small effect sizes, but this regional study serves as a foundation for a larger national study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adenike M Adesanya
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Rd, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK.
| | - Kate E Best
- Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Louise Coats
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Rd, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK
- Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Judith Rankin
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Rd, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Prolonged critical illness after congenital heart surgery disproportionately harms patients and the healthcare system, yet much remains unknown. We aimed to define prolonged critical illness, delineate between nonmodifiable and potentially preventable predictors of prolonged critical illness and prolonged critical illness mortality, and understand the interhospital variation in prolonged critical illness. DESIGN Observational analysis. SETTING Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium clinical registry. PATIENTS All patients, stratified into neonates (≤28 d) and nonneonates (29 d to 18 yr), admitted to the pediatric cardiac ICU after congenital heart surgery at Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium hospitals. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS There were 2,419 neonates and 10,687 nonneonates from 22 hospitals. The prolonged critical illness cutoff (90th percentile length of stay) was greater than or equal to 35 and greater than or equal to 10 days for neonates and nonneonates, respectively. Cardiac ICU prolonged critical illness mortality was 24% in neonates and 8% in nonneonates (vs 5% and 0.4%, respectively, in nonprolonged critical illness patients). Multivariable logistic regression identified 10 neonatal and 19 nonneonatal prolonged critical illness predictors within strata and eight predictors of mortality. Only mechanical ventilation days and acute renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy predicted prolonged critical illness and prolonged critical illness mortality in both strata. Approximately 40% of the prolonged critical illness predictors were nonmodifiable (preoperative/patient and operative factors), whereas only one of eight prolonged critical illness mortality predictors was nonmodifiable. The remainders were potentially preventable (postoperative critical care delivery variables and complications). Case-mix-adjusted prolonged critical illness rates were compared across hospitals; six hospitals each had lower- and higher-than-expected prolonged critical illness frequency. CONCLUSIONS Although many prolonged critical illness predictors are nonmodifiable, we identified several predictors to target for improvement. Furthermore, we observed that complications and prolonged critical care therapy drive prolonged critical illness mortality. Wide variation of prolonged critical illness frequency suggests that identifying practices at hospitals with lower-than-expected prolonged critical illness could lead to broader quality improvement initiatives.
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Feng CX. Zero-augmented accelerated spatial failure model for modeling hospital length of stay data. Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol 2019; 29:121-137. [PMID: 31128621 DOI: 10.1016/j.sste.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Hospital length of stay (LOS) is often used as an indicator for hospital efficiency and resource utilization. LOS is nonnegative with presence of zeros and typically positively skewed with a long right tail, which may not be adequately modelled by traditional distributions, such as lognormal. We developed a zero-augmented accelerated frailty model for modeling the extreme skewness with the presence of zeros. Levels of utilization of health services may vary geographically, so conditional autoregressive priors were used to provide spatial smoothing across neighboring hospital health districts. The random effect terms are further linked to investigate if the capacity for longer LOS are consistently higher or lower at the health district level. Modeling and inference used the Bayesian approach via Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation techniques. We demonstrated the proposed model for modeling the LOS of patients admitted due to chronic lower respiratory disease in Saskatchewan, Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Xin Feng
- School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, 104 Clinic Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N2Z4, Canada.
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Lower Hospital Charges and Societal Costs for Catheter Device Closure of Atrial Septal Defects. Pediatr Cardiol 2017; 38:1365-1369. [PMID: 28681132 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-017-1671-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Atrial septal defects (ASD) are among the most common congenital heart defects. As more ASDs are corrected by interventional catheterization instead of surgery, it is critical to understand the associated clinical and societal costs. The goal of this study was to use a national U.S. database to describe hospital charges and societal costs for surgical and catheter-based (ASD) closure. Retrospective review of hospital discharge data from the Kids' Inpatient Database from January 2010 to December 2012. The database was queried for admissions for <21 years old with ICD-9 procedure codes for surgical (35.51 or 35.61) or catheter (35.52) ASD closure; those with other cardiac conditions and/or additional cardiac procedures were excluded. Age, length of stay (LOS), and hospital charges and lost parental wages (societal costs) were compared between groups using t test or Mann-Whitney U test, as appropriate. Four hundred and eighty-six surgical and 305 catheter ASD closures were identified. LOS, hospital charges, and total societal costs were higher in surgical ASD compared to catheter ASD admissions (3.6 vs. 1.3 days, p < 0.001, $87,465 vs. $64,109, p < 0.001, and $90,000 vs. $64,966, p < 0.001, respectively). In this review of a large national inpatient database, we found that hospital and societal costs for surgical ASD closure are significantly higher than catheter ASD closure in the United States in the current era. Factors that likely contribute to this include longer LOS and longer post-operative recovery. Using "real-world" data, this study demonstrates a substantial cost advantage for catheter ASD closure compared to surgical.
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Boctor DL, Pillo-Blocka F, McCrindle BW. Nutrition After Cardiac Surgery for Infants With Congenital Heart Disease. Nutr Clin Pract 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/088453369901400303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Pillo-Blocka F, Miles C, Beghetti M, Rebeyka I, Freedom RM, McCrindle BW. Nutrition After Surgery for Hypoplastic Left-Heart Syndrome. Nutr Clin Pract 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/088453369801300207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Xie Y, Schreier G, Chang DCW, Neubauer S, Redmond SJ, Lovell NH. Predicting number of hospitalization days based on health insurance claims data using bagged regression trees. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2015; 2014:2706-9. [PMID: 25570549 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2014.6944181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Healthcare administrators worldwide are striving to both lower the cost of care whilst improving the quality of care given. Therefore, better clinical and administrative decision making is needed to improve these issues. Anticipating outcomes such as number of hospitalization days could contribute to addressing this problem. In this paper, a method was developed, using large-scale health insurance claims data, to predict the number of hospitalization days in a population. We utilized a regression decision tree algorithm, along with insurance claim data from 300,000 individuals over three years, to provide predictions of number of days in hospital in the third year, based on medical admissions and claims data from the first two years. Our method performs well in the general population. For the population aged 65 years and over, the predictive model significantly improves predictions over a baseline method (predicting a constant number of days for each patient), and achieved a specificity of 70.20% and sensitivity of 75.69% in classifying these subjects into two categories of 'no hospitalization' and 'at least one day in hospital'.
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Kim YY, Gauvreau K, Bacha EA, Landzberg MJ, Benavidez OJ. Resource use among adult congenital heart surgery admissions in pediatric hospitals: risk factors for high resource utilization and association with inpatient death. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2011; 4:634-9. [PMID: 22010202 DOI: 10.1161/circoutcomes.111.963223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric hospitals frequently perform congenital heart surgery in adults with congenital heart disease. The impact of these admissions on pediatric hospital resources is unknown. Our goals were to examine resource use by adults undergoing congenital heart surgery in pediatric hospitals, explore the association between high resource use (HRU) and inpatient death, and identify HRU risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS We obtained inpatient data from 42 pediatric hospitals from 2000 to 2008 and selected adult congenital heart (ACH) surgery admissions. We defined HRU admissions as those exceeding the 90th percentile for total hospital charges. We performed multivariable analyses using generalized estimating equations to identify risk factors for HRU. Of 97 563 congenital heart surgery admissions to pediatric hospitals, 3061 (3.1%) were adults, accounting for 2.2% of total hospital charges. The threshold for HRU was total hospital charges ≥$213 803. Although HRU admissions comprised 10% of admissions, they accounted for 34% of charges for all ACH surgery admissions. Mortality rate was 16% for HRU admissions and 0.7% for others (P<0.001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated higher case complexity: risk category 2 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.6; P=0.02), risk category 3 (AOR, 13.7; P<0.001), and risk category 4+ (AOR, 30.7; P<0.001) as compared with risk category 1; DiGeorge syndrome (AOR, 4.2; P=0.006); depression (AOR, 3.1; P<0.001); weekend admission (AOR, 2.6; P<0.001); and government insurance (AOR, 2.0; P<0.001) as risk factors for HRU. CONCLUSIONS High resource use ACH surgery admissions are associated with significantly greater mortality rates. ACH admissions with greater surgical complexity, government insurance, DiGeorge syndrome, weekend admission, and depression were more likely to result in HRU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuli Y Kim
- Divisions of Cardiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Hawkins JA, Kaza AK, Burch PT, Lambert LM, Holubkov R, Witte MK. Simple Versus Complex Truncus Arteriosus. World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2010; 1:285-91. [DOI: 10.1177/2150135110381098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study examined simple versus complex forms of truncus arteriosus (TA) results in the current era with regard to mortality, reintervention, and resource utilization. From 1999 to 2008, 42 infants underwent primary repair of TA, including 22 simple forms of TA without associated anomalies and 20 complex forms with risk factors such as interrupted aortic arch (n = 8), coarctation (n = 1), significant truncal valve regurgitation (n = 6), discontinuous pulmonary arteries (n = 3), and truncal valve stenosis (n = 2). There were 4 early deaths (4/42, 9.5%), with no difference between simple TA (2/22, 9.1%) and complex TA (2/20, 10%). Early mortality decreased to 1 patient (1/23, 4%) in the most recent era: 2003-2008. Late mortality occurred in 4 (4/38, 10.5%). Reintervention was required in 12 patients, a median of 2 years postoperatively: for conduit reasons in 8 and combined conduit and truncal valve insufficiency in 4. Actuarial survival was 82% ± 7% at 5 years and freedom from reintervention was 52% ± 17% at 5 years, which are not different between complex and simple forms. Complex TA, age, and weight were not predictors on multivariable analysis for early or late death or reintervention. Complex TA had significantly longer ( P < .05) median length of stay (17 vs 13 days) and intensive care unit intubation times (8 vs 5 days) versus simple TA. Complex TA does not have a higher operative or late mortality risk or increased risk of reintervention compared with simple TA. However, complex patients can be expected to have increased resource utilization as compared with simple forms of TA.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A. Hawkins
- Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Primary Children’s Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Aditya K. Kaza
- Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Primary Children’s Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Phillip T. Burch
- Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Primary Children’s Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Linda M. Lambert
- Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Primary Children’s Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Richard Holubkov
- Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Primary Children’s Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Madolin K. Witte
- Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Primary Children’s Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Rajagopal SK, Emani SM, Roy N, Westgate L, Bacha EA. Acute kidney injury and regional abdominal perfusion during neonatal aortic arch reconstruction. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2010; 140:453-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2010.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2009] [Revised: 01/19/2010] [Accepted: 03/21/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Atienza N, García-Heras J, Muñoz-Pichardo JM, Villa R. An application of mixture distributions in modelization of length of hospital stay. Stat Med 2008; 27:1403-20. [PMID: 17680551 DOI: 10.1002/sim.3029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Length of hospital stay (LOS) is an important indicator of the hospital activity and management of health care. The skewness exhibited by this variable poses problems in statistical modeling. The aim of this work is to model the variable LOS within diagnosis-related groups (DRG) through finite mixtures of distributions. A mixture of the union of Gamma, Weibull and Lognormal families is used in the model, instead of a mixture of a unique distribution family. Some theoretical questions regarding the model, such as the identifiability and study of asymptotic properties of ML estimators, are analyzed. The EM algorithm is proposed for performing these estimators. Finally, this new proposed model is illustrated by using data from different DRGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Atienza
- Departamento de Matemática Aplicada I, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain.
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Benavidez OJ, Connor JA, Gauvreau K, Jenkins KJ. The contribution of complications to high resource utilization during congenital heart surgery admissions. CONGENIT HEART DIS 2008; 2:319-26. [PMID: 18377447 DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-0803.2007.00119.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Institutes of Medicine estimates that patient safety events cost the United States between $17 billion and $29 billion annually. Costs associated with patient safety events or complications among congenital heart surgery admissions are understudied. OBJECTIVE To determine the independent contribution of complications on increased resource utilization during congenital heart surgery admissions. DESIGN/METHODS Data were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database year 2000. Cases of congenital heart surgery <18 years of age were identified. High resource use admissions were defined as admissions above the 90th percentile for total hospital charges. Complications were identified by a method published by the Agency for Healthcare Research Quality using ICD-9-CM codes. Multivariate analyses using generalized estimating equations adjusted for previously identified factors associated with high resource use to estimate the independent effect of a complication on high resource use. These factors include: Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery risk categories, age, prematurity, major noncardiac structural anomalies, Medicaid, weekend admission, and state. The added explanatory power attributed to a complication diagnosis variable was measured by an increase in the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC). RESULTS Among 10,602 congenital heart surgery admissions identified, the median total charges were $51,125. The threshold for high resource use was total charges >or=$192,272. High resource admissions accounted for >40% of the total charges for all admissions. Complications were identified in 3360 (32%) of congenital heart surgery admissions. Univariate analysis demonstrated that admissions with at least 1 complication diagnosis were more likely to be a high resource use admission (18% vs. 6%, OR 3.0, P < 0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed that admissions with a complication diagnosis were much more likely to exceed the threshold for high resource utilization (OR 3.2, P < 0.001). The addition of the complication variable to the multivariate model increased the area under the ROC curve from 0.837 to 0.863. CONCLUSIONS Congenital heart surgery admissions with a complication diagnosis are 3 times more likely to exceed $192 272 in total charges despite adjusting for known risk factors for high resource use. Complication reduction may result in both an economic and clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar J Benavidez
- Children's Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Scott WA, Fixler DE. Effect of center volume on outcome of ventricular septal defect closure and arterial switch operation. Am J Cardiol 2001; 88:1259-63. [PMID: 11728353 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9149(01)02087-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluates the effects of surgical volume and preoperative patient characteristics on length of stay following ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair and arterial switch operation (ASO). Twenty-four centers contributed data on 16,795 consecutive surgical procedures from January 1, 1992 to December 31, 1996 to the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium Registry. The following variables were used in the analysis: center, center volume, age, weight, date of operation, preoperative hospital days, presence of trisomy 21, and significant coexisting heart defects (risk). For VSD, all variables were associated with length of stay in the univariate analyses; however, in the multivariate model, center volume did not retain significance. Length of stay for ASO was associated with center, center volume, and preoperative days in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis for ASO, center and center volume were significant variables for predicting length of stay. These findings suggest that length of stay for uncomplicated surgical procedures is not related to surgical volume; however, for technically demanding procedures, length of stay tends to be shorter in centers with more experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- W A Scott
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75235, USA.
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Erickson LC, Wise PH, Cook EF, Beiser A, Newburger JW. The impact of managed care insurance on use of lower-mortality hospitals by children undergoing cardiac surgery in California. Pediatrics 2000; 105:1271-8. [PMID: 10835068 DOI: 10.1542/peds.105.6.1271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Managed care plans aggressively seek to contain costs, but few data are available regarding their impact on access to high quality care for their members. OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of managed care health insurance on use of lower-mortality hospitals for children undergoing heart surgery in California. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study using state-mandated hospital discharge datasets. SETTING Pediatric cardiovascular surgical centers in California. PATIENTS Five thousand seventy-one children admitted for open cardiac surgical procedures during 1992-1994. RESULTS Hospitals were divided into lower- and higher-mortality groups according to adjusted surgical mortality. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis to control for medical, socioeconomic, demographic, and distance factors, children with managed care insurance were less likely to be admitted to a lower-mortality hospital for surgery relative to children with indemnity insurance (odds ratio:.53; 95% confidence interval:.45,.63). Similar findings resulted when the analysis was stratified by race/ethnicity. In addition, length of stay, a correlate of health care costs, was no longer for children admitted to lower-mortality centers than for those at higher-mortality centers (adjusted difference:.54 days shorter at lower-mortality centers; 95% confidence interval: -1.50,. 41). CONCLUSIONS During this study, children with managed care insurance had significantly reduced use of lower-mortality hospitals for pediatric heart surgery in California compared with children with indemnity insurance. Further study is necessary to determine the mechanisms of this apparent insurance-specific inequity.
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Affiliation(s)
- L C Erickson
- Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Vricella LA, Dearani JA, Gundry SR, Razzouk AJ, Brauer SD, Bailey LL. Ultra fast track in elective congenital cardiac surgery. Ann Thorac Surg 2000; 69:865-71. [PMID: 10750774 DOI: 10.1016/s0003-4975(99)01306-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Changes in healthcare delivery have affected the practice of congenital cardiac surgery. We recently developed a strategy of limited sternotomy, early extubation, and very early discharge, and reviewed the perioperative course of 198 pediatric patients undergoing elective cardiovascular surgical procedures, to assess the efficacy and safety of this approach. METHODS One hundred ninety-eight patients aged 0 to 18 years (median 3.2 years) underwent 201 elective cardiovascular surgical procedures over a 1-year period. All patients were admitted on the day of surgery. Patients were divided into six diagnostic groups: group 1, complex left-to-right shunts (n = 14, 7.0%); group 2, simple left-to-right shunts (n = 83, 41.3%); group 3, right-to-left shunts with pulmonary obstruction (n = 33, 16.4%); group 4, isolated, nonvalvular obstructive lesions (n = 30, 14.9%); group 5, isolated valvular anomalies (n = 20, 10.0%); and group 6, miscellaneous (n = 21, 10.4%). RESULTS After 201 procedures, 175 patients (87.1%) were extubated in the operating room and 188 (93.6%) within 4 hours from operation. Four patients (2.0%) were extubated more than 24 hours from completion of the procedure, and 2 (1.0%) died while on respiratory support (never weaned). Five patients (2.6%) failed early extubation (<4 hours). Early discharge was achieved for the vast majority of patients. Overall median length of stay (LOS, including day of surgery as day 1) was 2.0 days, with a median LOS of 3.0 days for those patients requiring circulatory arrest duration exceeding 20 minutes. Of 195 patients, 43 (24.6%), 121 (74.0%), and 159 (81.5%) were discharged, respectively, at <24, <48, <72 hours from admission. Longest and shortest mean postoperative LOS were in group 6 (9.9+/-14.5 days) and group 2 (1.6 = 0.7 days), respectively. Six patients (2.9%) died, and 11 (5.5%) suffered in-hospital complications. Thirty patients (15.4%) were either treated as outpatients (n = 11, 5.7%) or readmitted (n = 19, 9.7%) within 30 days from the time of surgery. Only 8 of 195 patients (4.1%) were readmitted with true surgical complications requiring invasive therapeutic procedures. CONCLUSIONS Selected patients with a broad spectrum of congenital heart disease may enjoy same-day admission, limited sternotomy, immediate extubation, and very early discharge with excellent outcomes and acceptable morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Vricella
- Department of Surgery, Loma Linda University Medical Center and Children's Hospital, California 92354, USA
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O'Keefe GE, Jurkovich GJ, Maier RV. Defining excess resource utilization and identifying associated factors for trauma victims. THE JOURNAL OF TRAUMA 1999; 46:473-8. [PMID: 10088854 DOI: 10.1097/00005373-199903000-00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trauma system evaluation addresses aspects of the process, structure, and outcomes of trauma care. This approach may not identify all opportunities for trauma system improvement. Hospital length of stay (LOS) represents a meaningful measure of resource utilization and may help focus efforts to improve care. The purpose of this study is to estimate expected hospital LOS after trauma and determine the consequences of excessive LOS. METHODS Patients admitted during a 2-year period (January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1994) were retrospectively reviewed, and expected LOS was estimated. Excess LOS was defined as an observed LOS > or =100% of expected. Injuries, complications, and American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma audit filters were compared between the groups. RESULTS Observed LOS exceeded expected by 100% or more for 568 of 5,226 patients (10.9%), and most survived (98.3%). Complications predicted excess LOS, whereas audit filters did not. Median costs for these 568 patients were $30,315 and totaled 30% of the expenditures for the entire cohort of 5,226 patients. CONCLUSION Prolonged LOS represents an adverse outcome. Estimation of LOS and evaluation of outliers represents an important method for the evaluation of care within established trauma systems and centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- G E O'Keefe
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9158, USA.
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Parrish MD, Pollock M, Gauthier N, Park J, Hobde B. Sources of variability in hospital costs of atrial septal defect repair. Am J Cardiol 1998; 82:252-4. [PMID: 9678303 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9149(98)00301-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Sources of variability in the cost of atrial septal defect repair were assessed. Variations in practice style, inflation, and errors in data entry were found to be the 3 primary sources of cost variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Parrish
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, USA
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Chaloupecký V, Hucín B, Tláskal T, Kostelka M, Kucera V, Janousek J, Skovránek J, Sprongl L. Nitrogen balance, 3-methylhistidine excretion, and plasma amino acid profile in infants after cardiac operations for congenital heart defects: the effect of early nutritional support. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997; 114:1053-60. [PMID: 9434700 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-5223(97)70019-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutritional support on proteolysis and plasma amino acid profile in infants early after cardiac operations for congenital heart defects. METHODS Thirty-seven patients, 2 to 12 months old, were randomized on postoperative day 1 for 24-hour isocaloric metabolic study. Group STANDARD (18 patients) received glucose as the maintenance fluid, and group PN (19 patients) received glucose and crystalloid amino acid solution at a dosage of 0.8 +/- 0.1 gm/kg per day. The nonprotein caloric intake in the two groups was 25 +/- 15 and 33 +/- 9 kcal/kg, respectively (p = not significant). RESULTS The nitrogen balance was markedly less negative in group PN than in group STANDARD (-114 +/- 81 vs -244 +/- 86 mg/kg, respectively, p = 0.001). There was a highly significant inverse correlation between the nitrogen balance and urinary 3-methylhistidine excretion in both groups, but the muscle proteolysis was blunted more effectively in patients receiving amino acids. Concentrations of the plasmatic branched-chain amino acids, alanine, glycine, and proline, decreased significantly in group STANDARD but not in group PN on postoperative day 2. Glutamine and threonine levels declined significantly on postoperative day 2 in both groups. Low levels of arginine were observed in our patients before operation and in the early postoperative period. The amino acid concentrations normalized on postoperative day 7 in all patients. CONCLUSION Significant proteolysis and hypoaminoacidemia were observed in infants early after cardiac operations. This hypercatabolic response was blunted by parenteral nutritional support.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Chaloupecký
- Kardiocentrum, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
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Abstract
Surgical approaches to single-ventricle physiologic abnormalities have included Fontan palliation or transplantation. No cost expenditures have been published. This study compared expenditures between the Fontan procedure and heart transplantation. Between 1988 and 1992, records of 82 patients who underwent the Fontan procedure and 26 who underwent transplant were retrospectively reviewed. Charges for Fontan or transplant procedures were accrued from the date of surgical admission until discharge or patient death and included hospital, physician, and diagnostic laboratory charges. Additionally, the frequency and cost of postoperative hospital readmissions, outpatient evaluations, and diagnostic procedures were recorded for each patient. Estimated expenditures for each evaluated parameter were based on 1992 to 1993 dollar charges. The total expenditure (surgery plus yearly follow-up) for transplantation exceeded that for the Fontan procedure ($96,475 vs $29,730; p < 0.001). Although both groups had similar follow-up periods and mortality rates, the number of hospital readmissions and postoperative diagnostic tests was higher among transplant recipients. Within 1 postoperative year at least four high-risk patients who had undergone a Fontan procedure required listing for transplantation; the total costs of their combined procedures (approximately $80,000 + $3,000 to $5,000 annual outpatient charges) was markedly greater than the cost of the Fontan procedure alone. Although the expenditure for heart transplantation far exceeds that for the Fontan procedure, Fontan palliation in high-risk patients is ultimately more costly and increases postoperative morbidity. In this subgroup, we recommend heart transplantation as the initial definitive procedure because it may increase long-term survival rates and minimize health care expenditures.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J Gajarski
- Lillie Frank Abercrombie Section of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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