Clinical, fiscal and environmental benefits of a specialist-led virtual ureteric colic clinic: a prospective study.
BJU Int
; 124(6): 1034-1039, 2019 12.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31206221
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the clinical, fiscal and environmental impact of a specialist-led acute ureteric colic virtual clinic (VC) pathway. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
All patients with uncomplicated acute ureteric colic, referred to a single tertiary centre, were prospectively entered into the study over a 4-year period (January 2015-December 2018). Inclusion criteria were low-dose non-contrast computed tomography of kidneys, ureters and bladder; white blood cell count <16 × 109/L; pain controlled; normal renal function; and no clinical concern. Primary outcomes were time (days) from referral to VC outcome; VC outcome (discharge, further VC, face-to-face [FTF] clinic, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy [ESWL], ureterorenoscopy [URS], percutaneous nephrolithotomy [PCNL]); and adverse events (sepsis or obstruction). Secondary outcomes were patient and stone demographics, cost and environmental analysis. The minimum follow-up was 3 months.RESULTS:
A total of 1008 patients entered the study, of whom 91.5% (n = 922) were of working age. The median (interquartile range) time from presentation to VC outcome was 2 (4) days. VC outcomes were as follows 16.3% of patients (n = 164) were discharged; 18.2% (n = 183) were discharged after further VC; 17.2% (n = 173) underwent an intervention; and 48.4% (n = 488) were referred to an FTF clinic. Interventions comprised PCNL 0.5% (n = 5); ESWL 7.7% (n = 78); and URS 8.9% (n = 90). Stone demographics were as follows 570 patients (56.5%) had lower, 157 (15.6%) had upper, 96 (9.5%) had mid-ureteric and 163 (16.2%) had renal calculi, and in 22 patients (2.2%) the stones had recently passed. The mean (sd) stone size was 3.5 (2.3) mm. Two adverse events (0.2%) were reported. Introducing a VC saved £145,152 for Clinical Commissioning Groups, the equivalent NHS tariff payment of performing 106 URS procedures or 211 ureteric stent insertions. Overall, 15,085 patient journey kilometres were avoided, equal to 0.70-2.93 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent production and the need to plant 14.7 trees to achieve carbon balance.CONCLUSION:
A specialist-led acute ureteric colic VC reduced time to treatment decision to a median of 2 days. This creates additional clinic capacity and reduces the fiscal burden of traditional clinics and their associated carbon footprint.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Telemedicina
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Cólica Renal
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Pegada de Carbono
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article