Hospital Resources Used for Inpatient and Ambulatory Surgery

What is the value of routinely testing full blood count, electrolytes and urea, and pulmonary function tests before elective surgery in patients with no apparent clinical indication and in subgroups of patients with common comorbidities: a systematic review of the clinical and cost-effective literature

“…Two hundred and eighty-two references were identified as relevant from the title and abstract sifting using the abstract selection criteria. Of the 282 full manuscripts that were obtained for further assessment, eight papers [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] (one full economic evaluation 36 and seven partial economic evaluations [37][38][39][40][41][42][43] ) were identified for data extraction.…”

“…Only one full economic evaluation was identified. 36 Although we additionally reported seven further partial economic evaluations [37][38][39][40][41][42][43] with a view to extracting data that might be used in an economic model, these too provided few data that could be utilised.…”

“…The comparison of the use of pre-operative tests, operating and recovery room time for comparable groups of patients receiving inpatient or ambulatory care was undertaken by Kitz et al 41 Hospital costs for the pre-operative tests and for nursing labour costs, based on operating and recovery room times, were also assessed.…”

Total Elbow Arthroplasty as an Outpatient Procedure Using a Continuous Infraclavicular Nerve Block at Home: A Prospective Case Report

“…19,20 In addition, ambulatory surgery frees hospital beds and increases overall operating room capacity. 20 Finally, after hospital discharge, ambulatory infusion may improve patients' ability to adhere to their frequent and intensive rehabilitation regimens because oral analgesics alone often provide inadequate analgesia for postoperative range-of-motion exercises, 21 and inadequate range of motion is the most common complication after TEA. 22 As with most surgical procedures, postoperative pain after TEA decreases with time.…”

Inaccurate data may lead to insufficient resources

“…An increase in the use of “ambulatory” surgery can substantially reduce hospital financial and opportunity costs 2 3. In the South East Kent study one consultant dermatologist personally performed the definitive surgery for a fifth of the people with malignant melanomas in the outpatient department, the remainder being admitted under general surgeons.…”