Extrahepatic portal hypertension following abdominal surgery.

We present a case of non-cirrhotic extrahepatic portal hypertension in a 31-year-old woman following extensive abdominal laparotomy for the drainage of multiple retroperitoneal and liver abscesses following a perforated appendix. Chronic portal, splenic, and mesenteric vein thrombosis with portal hypertension was caused by a hypercoagulable state due to the abdominal infection and abdominal surgery. Various etiological aspects of chronic extraheptic venous thrombosis have not been documented due to the low incidence of these events. We discuss these aspects in the context of our patient.

Influence of provider volume on length of stay, operating room time, and discharge status for rotator cuff repair.

Length of hospital stay, operating room time, and disposition of patient on discharge are important determinants of health care resource utilization. We examined the relationship between these determinants and hospital/surgeon volume for rotator cuff repair. A total of 9,973 patients undergoing rotator cuff repair were extracted from the New York State Ambulatory Surgery Databases for the years 1997 through 2000. Surgeon volume and hospital volume were divided into low-, intermediate-, and high-volume categories. Multivariate regression models were used to estimate the risk-adjusted association between provider volume and outcomes. Patients operated on by low-volume surgeons had significantly higher likelihood for an extended length of stay when compared with those operated on by high-volume surgeons (adjusted odds ratio for extended length of stay, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.4). There was a linear trend for a higher proportion of routine patient discharge with increasing surgeon volume. The mean operating room times for low- and intermediate-volume surgeons were significantly higher than that for high-volume surgeons (P < .001). We conclude that high-volume providers use health care resources more efficiently.

Effect of provider volume on resource utilization for surgical procedures of the knee.

Operating-room time and patient disposition on discharge are important determinants of healthcare resource utilization and cost. We examined the relation between these determinants and hospital/surgeon volume for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and meniscectomy procedures. Patients undergoing ACL reconstruction (18,390 cases) and meniscectomy (123,012 cases) were extracted from the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases for the years 1997-2000. Surgeon and hospital volume were divided into low-, intermediate-, and high-volume categories. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the adjusted association between surgeon and hospital volume and patient discharge status and operating-room time. Patients undergoing ACL reconstruction or meniscectomy performed by low-volume surgeons were significantly more likely to be non-routinely discharged as compared to high-volume surgeons (adjusted odds ratio 3.5, 95% confidence interval 1.7-7.2 for ACL reconstruction; adjusted odds ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.6-2.3 for meniscectomy). The mean operating-room time for performing ACL reconstruction or meniscectomy was significantly higher in low- and intermediate-volume surgeons and hospitals as compared to high-volume surgeons and hospitals (p < or = 0.001). High-volume providers utilize healthcare resources more efficiently. Our findings may help surgeons and hospitals in optimizing resource utilization and cost for routinely-performed ambulatory surgery procedures.