Resource utilization and pathways: meeting the challenge of cost containment.

The 1990s will bring sweeping changes with managed care and capitation. To address this cost/quality paradox, selective intensive care utilization is coupled with clinical pathways as an innovative change for all patients having cerebral revascularization (CVR) or femoral revascularization (FR). From January 1, 1991 through June 30, 1995, data were accumulated on 2023 procedures in 1524 patients. The study was based on 848 CVRs and 1175 FRs. Intensive care unit (ICU) observation was necessary in 73 patients (3.6%) for cardiac or hypertensive management. Twenty-six patients (1.2%) transported to a vascular surgical floor from the postanesthesia recovery room required return to an ICU for complications during hospitalization. There were nine strokes or transient ischemic attacks (0.4%) in the CVR group, four myocardial infarctions (0.2%), and five perioperative deaths (0.3%). In the FR group, there were 14 deaths (0.9%). Readmission during the perioperative period, 30 days, was necessary in 46 patients (3.1%). Financial cost analysis revealed the mean adjusted cost for CVR in 1990 adjusted to 1995 dollars was $7223. The institution of case management reduced this to $4490 (37.8 per cent reduction in total hospital costs). The cost for FR in 1990 dollars adjusted to 1995 was $14,332 reduced to $5541 (a 59 per cent reduction in total hospital costs). This study suggests the use of clinical pathways does not impair quality of care, leads to no higher morbidity or mortality, and can produce significant cost savings to a hospital.

Case management in cerebral revascularization.

PURPOSE: We examined the clinical and financial outcomes of case management coupled with the initiation of selective use of the intensive care unit (ICU) in all cerebral revascularization procedures. METHODS: Three hundred eighty-four procedures in 331 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Morbidity and mortality rates, hospital length of stay, cost, and ICU or hospital readmissions were examined. Hypertension was examined as an independent variable for its effect on patient outcome. RESULTS: Cerebral revascularization, including carotid endarterectomy, vertebral-carotid artery transposition, and subclavian-carotid artery transposition, yielded a 0.78% stroke rate and 0.26% perioperative death rate in this series. ICU admission was necessary in nine patients (2.3%) for cardiac or respiratory instability. Three patients (0.78%) required transfer to the ICU for management of hypertension or hypotension. The mean hospital length of stay after institution of case management was reduced by 2.1 days, and the mean cost was decreased by $1987, a savings of 28.9% of total hospital cost. CONCLUSION: The dual approach of case management and selective use of the ICU promotes quality patient care, conserves financial resources without adversely affecting morbidity or mortality rates, enhances physician/nurse collaboration, and improves patient satisfaction.

Cefamandole versus cefazolin in vascular surgical wound infection prophylaxis: cost-effectiveness and risk factors.

PURPOSE: Recent studies of perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis have indicated an improved efficacy of beta-lactamase-stable cephalosporins compared with cefazolin, the most commonly used prophylactic agent. Previous studies in our institution have revealed a superiority of cefamandole to cefazolin in patients undergoing heart surgery, although there was no difference between cefazolin and cefuroxime in patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery. This study was therefore designed to compare cefamandole with cefazolin in wound infection prophylaxis in clean vascular surgery. METHODS: The study was conducted from August 1990 through May 1992 and consisted of 893 patients with aortic or infrainguinal arterial procedures randomized to receive either cefamandole or cefazolin. RESULTS: The difference in infection rates associated with cefamandole versus cefazolin prophylaxis (3.2% vs 1.9%, respectively) was not significant (p = 0.42). A cost savings of approximately $95,000 per year at our institution favors the continued use of cefazolin over cefamandole. Risk factor analysis was carried out for preoperative and postoperative events that might have predisposed to infection. Only preoperative use of aspirin and the postoperative finding of a lymphocele correlated with a higher infection rate. CONCLUSIONS: Cefazolin continues to be the most cost-effective antibiotic for prophylaxis in clean vascular surgical procedures.

Assessment of expectorated sputum for bacteriological analysis based on polymorphs and squamous epithelial cells: six-month study.

Samples of sputum were examined microscopically to determine their suitability for routine culture. When the number of squamous epithelial cells per field was less than 10, the number of bacterial species generally fell within the range of one to four. Squamous epithelial cells were not always a true indication because some unmarked transtracheal specimens showing more than 10 squamous epithelial cells also gave a range of isolation falling between one and four. When the presence of 25 or more polymorphs was used as the parameter, the number of bacterial isolates generally fell within the range of one to three, but this resulted in positive overbiasing with consequent rejection of valid specimens. Later it was found that when a differential system using both polymorphonuclear cells and squamous epithelial cells was applied, a significant number of specimens could be salvaged which would otherwise have been discarded.