Quality measurement in healthcare.

Measurement is the basis for assessing potential improvements in healthcare quality. Measures may be classified into four categories: volume, structure, outcome, and process (VSOP). Measures of each type should be used with a full understanding of their cost and benefit. Although volume and structure measures are easily collected, impact on healthcare results is not always clear. Process measures are generally more difficult and expensive to collect, and the relationship between process and outcomes is only recently being explored. Knowledge of measure types and relationships among them, as well as emerging evidence on the role of patient satisfaction, must be used to guide improvements and ultimately for demonstrating value in healthcare.

Critical care in patients undergoing lumbar spine fusion: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Data on the utilization of critical care services (CCSs) among patients who underwent spine fusion are rare. Given the increasing popularity of this procedure, information regarding demographics and risk factors for the use of these advanced services is needed in order to appropriately allocate resources, educate clinical staff, and identify targets for future research. METHODS: We analyzed hospital discharge data of patients who underwent lumbar spine fusion in approximately 400 US hospitals between 2006 and 2010. Patient, procedure, and health care system-related demographics for those requiring CCS were compared to those who did not. Outcomes such as mortality, complications, disposition status, and hospital charges were compared among groups and risk factors for the utilization of CCS identified. RESULTS: A total of 95 434 entries of patients who underwent posterior lumbar spine fusion surgery between 2006 and 2010 were identified. Approximately 10% of the patients required CCS. On average, patients requiring CCS were older and had a higher comorbidity burden, developed more complications, had longer hospital stays and higher costs, and were less likely to be discharged home compared to non-CCS patients. Risk factors with increased odds for requiring CCS included advanced age, increasing comorbidity burden, increasing surgical invasiveness, and presence of postoperative complications, especially pulmonary. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately, 10% of the patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery require CCS. Utilizing the present data, critical care physicians and administrators can identify patients at risk, educate clinical staff, identify targets for intervention, and allocate resources to meet the needs of this particular patient population.

The impact of sleep apnea on postoperative utilization of resources and adverse outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Despite the concern that sleep apnea (SA) is associated with increased risk for postoperative complications, a paucity of information is available regarding the effect of this disorder on postoperative complications and resource utilization in the orthopedic population. With an increasing number of surgical patients suffering from SA, this information is important to physicians, patients, policymakers, and administrators alike. METHODS: We analyzed hospital discharge data of patients who underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty in approximately 400 U.S. Hospitals between 2006 and 2010. Patient, procedure, and health care system-related demographics and outcomes such as mortality, complications, and resource utilization were compared among groups. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit to assess the association between SA and various outcomes. RESULTS: We identified 530,089 entries for patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty. Of those, 8.4% had a diagnosis code for SA. In the multivariate analysis, the diagnosis of SA emerged as an independent risk factor for major postoperative complications (OR 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-1.55). Pulmonary complications were 1.86 (95% CI, 1.65-2.09) times more likely and cardiac complications 1.59 (95% CI, 1.48-1.71) times more likely to occur in patients with SA. In addition, SA patients were more likely to receive ventilatory support, use more intensive care, stepdown and telemetry services, consume more economic resources, and have longer lengths of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of SA is a major clinical and economic challenge in the postoperative period. More research is needed to identify SA patients at risk for complications and develop evidence-based practices to aid in the allocation of clinical and economic resources.

Blood transfusions in total hip and knee arthroplasty: an analysis of outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Various studies have raised concern of worse outcomes in patients receiving blood transfusions perioperatively compared to those who do not. In this study we attempted to determine the proportion of perioperative complications in the orthopedic population attributable to the use of a blood transfusion. METHODS: Data from 400 hospitals in the United States were used to identify patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA) from 2006 to 2010. Patient and health care demographics, as well as comorbidities and perioperative outcomes were compared. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to determine associations between transfusion, age, and comorbidities and various perioperative outcomes. Population attributable fraction (PAF) was determined to measure the proportion of outcome attributable to transfusion and other risk factors. RESULTS: Of 530,089 patients, 18.93% received a blood transfusion during their hospitalization. Patients requiring blood transfusion were significantly older and showed a higher comorbidity burden. In addition, these patients had significantly higher rates of major complications and a longer length of hospitalization. The logistic regression models showed that transfused patients were more likely to have adverse health outcomes than nontransfused patients. However, patients who were older or had preexisting diseases carried a higher risk than use of a transfusion for these outcomes. The need for a blood transfusion explained 9.51% (95% CI 9.12-9.90) of all major complications. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced age and high comorbidity may be responsible for a higher proportion of adverse outcomes in THA and TKA patients than blood transfusions.

2011 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards. The effect of a novel Housestaff Quality Council on quality and patient safety. Innovation in patient safety and quality at the local level.

BACKGROUND: In 2008 New York-Presbyterian Hospital (NYP)/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, the largest not-for-profit, nonsectarian hospital in the United States, created and implemented a novel approach--the Housestaff Quality Council (HQC)--to engaging house-staff in quality and patient safety activities. METHODS: The HQC represented an innovative collaboration between the housestaff, the Department of Anesthesiology, the Division of Quality and Patient Safety, the Office of Graduate Medical Education, and senior leadership. As key managers of patient care, the housestaff sought to become involved in the quality and patient safety decision- and policy-making processes at the hospital. Its members were determined to decrease or minimize adverse events by facilitating multimodal communication, ensuring smart work flow, and measuring outcomes to determine best practices. The HQC, which also included frontline hospital staff or managers from areas such as nursing, pharmacy, and information technology, aligned its initiatives with those of the division of quality and patient safety and embarked on two projects--medication reconciliation and use of the electronic medical record. More than three years later, the resulting improvements have been sustained and three new projects--hand hygiene, central line-associated bloodstream infections, and patient handoffs--have been initiated. CONCLUSIONS: The HQC model is highly replicable at other teaching institutions as a complementary approach to their other quality and patient safety initiatives. However, the ability to sustain positive momentum is dependent on the ability of residents to invest time and effort in the face of a demanding residency training schedule and focus on specialty-specific clinical and research activities.

The Promise of Remote Patient Monitoring: Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Surge in New York City.

The coronavirus pandemic catalyzed a digital health transformation, placing renewed focus on using remote monitoring technologies to care for patients outside of hospitals. At NewYork-Presbyterian, the authors expanded remote monitoring infrastructure and developed a COVID-19 Hypoxia Monitoring program-a critical means through which discharged COVID-19 patients were followed and assessed, enabling the organization to maximize inpatient capacity at a time of acute bed shortage. The pandemic tested existing remote monitoring efforts, revealing numerous operating challenges including device management, centralized escalation protocols, and health equity concerns. The continuation of these programs required addressing these concerns while expanding monitoring efforts in ambulatory and transitions of care settings. Building on these experiences, this article offers insights and strategies for implementing remote monitoring programs at scale and improving the sustainability of these efforts. As virtual care becomes a patient expectation, the authors hope hospitals recognize the promise that remote monitoring holds in reenvisioning health care delivery.

Implementation of a Centralized Telepsychiatry Consult Service in a Multi-Hospital Metropolitan Health Care System: Challenges and Opportunities.

BACKGROUND: Providing adequate psychiatry consultation capacity on a 24/7 basis is an intrinsic challenge throughout many multihospital health care systems. At present, implementation research has not adequately defined the effectiveness and feasibility of a centralized telepsychiatry consultation service within a multihospital health care system. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate feasibility of a hub and spoke model for provision of inpatient consult telepsychiatry service from an academic medical center to 2 affiliated regional hospital sites, to reduce patient wait time, and to develop best practice guidelines for telepsychiatry consultations to the acutely medically ill. METHODS: The implementation, interprofessional workflow, process of triage, and provider satisfaction were described from the first 13 months of the service. RESULTS: This pilot study resulted in 557 completed telepsychiatry consults over the course of 13 months from 2018 to 2019. A range of psychiatric conditions commonly encountered by consultation-liaison services were diagnosed and treated through the teleconferencing modality. The most common barriers to successful use of telepsychiatry were defined for the 20% of consult requests that were retriaged to face-to-face evaluation. The average patient wait time from consult request to initial consultation was reduced from >24 hours to 92 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the feasibility of a centralized telepsychiatry hub to improve delivery of psychiatry consultation within a multihospital system with an overall reduction in patient wait time. This work may serve as a model for further design innovation across many health care settings and new patient subpopulations.

Using technology to enhance medication regimen education after solid organ transplantation.

PURPOSE: The design and implementation of a tool that combines clinical teaching with cutting-edge, simplified technology for providing medication education to solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are described. METHODS: In a retrospective study of adults who received kidney transplants from February 2015 through May 2017, patients were educated about their medications using a tablet computer application, Medication Regimen Education (MRxEd), that presented concise videos describing the name, indication, dose, adverse effects, and associated interactions of all medications received, as well as special considerations applicable to each agent. Assessment questions were used to reinforce key concepts and identify knowledge gaps. RESULTS: The digital educational intervention was provided to 282 kidney transplant recipients. Patients were predominantly white (48%) and/or male (63%), with a median age of 51 years (interquartile range, 37-61 years). Patients came from a variety of education backgrounds. Most patients (81%) were educated on dual maintenance immunosuppression (with tacrolimus and mycophenolate) and 3 infection prophylaxis agents (nystatin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and valganciclovir). Most patients (90%) correctly answered questions related to medication indications, dosing, and special rules, but many (61%) had difficulty correctly answering questions about adverse effects. CONCLUSION: An innovative approach for interactive and engaging medication teaching with the MRxEd application enhanced the education process for SOT recipients.

Telemedicine and its transformation of emergency care: a case study of one of the largest US integrated healthcare delivery systems.

Innovative methods for delivering healthcare via the use of technology are rapidly growing. Despite the passage of the Affordable Care Act, emergency department visits have continued to rise nationally. Healthcare systems must devise solutions to face these increasing volumes and also deliver high quality care. In response to the changing healthcare landscape, New York Presbyterian Hospital has implemented a comprehensive enterprise wide digital health portfolio which includes the first mobile stroke treatment unit on the east coast and the first emergency department-based digital emergency care program in New York City.

Conversion-to-open in laparoscopic appendectomy: A cohort analysis of risk factors and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Identifying risk factors for conversion from laparoscopic to open appendectomy could select patients who may benefit from primary open appendectomy. We aimed to develop a predictive scoring model for conversion from laparoscopic to open based on pre-operative patient characteristics. METHODS: A retrospective review of the State Inpatient Database (2007-2011) was performed using derivation (N = 71,617) and validation (N = 143,235) cohorts of adults ≥ 18 years with acute appendicitis treated by laparoscopic-only (LA), conversion from laparoscopic to open (CA), or primary open (OA) appendectomy. Pre-operative variables independently associated with CA were identified and reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A weighted integer-based scoring model to predict CA was designed based on pre-operative variable ORs, and complications between operative subgroups were compared. RESULTS: Independent predictors of CA in the derivation cohort were age ≥40 (OR 1.67; CI 1.55-1.80), male sex (OR 1.25; CI 1.17-1.34), black race (OR 1.46; CI 1.28-1.66), diabetes (OR 1.47; CI 1.31-1.65), obesity (OR 1.56; CI 1.40-1.74), and acute appendicitis with abscess or peritonitis (OR 7.00; CI 6.51-7.53). In the validation cohort, the CA predictive scoring model had an optimal cutoff score of 4 (range 0-9). The risk of conversion-to-open was ≤5% for a score <4, compared to 10-25% for a score ≥4. On composite outcomes analysis controlling for all pre-operative variables, CA had a higher likelihood of infectious/inflammatory (OR 1.44; CI 1.31-1.58), hematologic (OR 1.31; CI 1.17-1.46), and renal (OR 1.22; CI 1.06-1.39) complications compared to OA. Additionally, CA had a higher likelihood of infectious/inflammatory, respiratory, cardiovascular, hematologic, and renal complications compared to LA. CONCLUSIONS: CA patients have an unfavorable complication profile compared to OA. The predictors identified in this scoring model could help select for patients who may benefit from primary open appendectomy.

Use of antibiotics for adult upper respiratory infections in outpatient settings: a national ambulatory network study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Studies have suggested that antibiotics are often inappropriately used in the treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infections (URIs). This study examined antibiotic use for adult URIs in a large national network of offices that use electronic health records (EHRs). METHODS: Using the Medical Quality Improvement Consortium (MQIC) database, URI episodes were identified for patients ages 18 to 65 years from January 1, 1998, to March 31, 2003. The percentage of episodes for which antibiotics were prescribed and the proportion of antibiotics that were broad spectrum were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 52,135 URI episodes identified, 65% received antibiotics. Antibiotics were prescribed for 78% of acute bronchitis episodes, 65% of acute pharyngitis episodes, 81% of acute sinusitis episodes, and 33% of nonspecific URI episodes. The proportion of antibiotics that were broad spectrum was 56% for all URI episodes, 68% for acute bronchitis, 55% for acute sinusitis and nonspecific URI, and 40% for pharyngitis. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates overuse of antibiotics for adult URIs in a large national ambulatory care network, with particular overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The study also illustrates the enormous potential of EHR data for conducting practice-based research across large national office networks.

Variability in length of stay after uncomplicated pulmonary lobectomy: is length of stay a quality metric or a patient metric?†.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have identified predictors of prolonged length of stay (LOS) following pulmonary lobectomy. LOS is typically described to have a direct relationship to postoperative complications. We sought to determine the LOS and factors associated with variability after uncomplicated pulmonary lobectomy. METHODS: Analysing the State Inpatient Databases, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality database, we reviewed lobectomies performed (2009-11) on patients in California, Florida and New York. LOS and comorbidities were identified. Multivariable regression analysis (MVA) was used to determine factors associated with LOS greater than the median. Patients with postoperative complications or death were excluded. RESULTS: Among 22 647 lobectomies performed, we identified 13 099 patients (58%) with uncomplicated postoperative courses (mean age = 66 years; 56% female; 76% white, 57% Medicare; median DEYO comorbidity score = 3, 55% thoracotomy, 45% thoracoscopy/robotic). There was a wide distribution in LOS [median LOS = 5 days; interquartile range (IQR) 4-7]. By MVA, predictors of prolonged LOS included, age ≥ 75 years [odds ratio (OR) 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-2.0], male gender (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.2), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.5-1.7) and other comorbidities, Medicaid payer (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.4-2.1) versus private insurance, thoracotomy (OR 3.0, 95% CI 2.8-3.3) versus video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery/robotic approach and low hospital volume (OR 2.4, 95% CI 2.1-2.6). CONCLUSIONS: Variability exists in LOS following even uncomplicated pulmonary lobectomy. Variability is driven by clinical factors such as age, gender, payer and comorbidities, but also by surgical approach and volume. All of these factors should be taken into account when designing clinical care pathways or when allocating payment resources. Attempts to define an optimal LOS depend heavily upon the patient population studied.

Incidence and implications of postoperative supraventricular tachycardia after pulmonary lobectomy.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the rate of postoperative supraventricular tachycardia (POSVT) in patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy, and its association with adverse outcomes. METHODS: Using the State Inpatient Database, from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, we reviewed lobectomies performed (2009-2011) in California, Florida, and New York, to determine POSVT incidence. Patients were grouped by presence or absence of POSVT, with or without other complications. Stroke rates were analyzed independently from other complications. Multivariable regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with POSVT. RESULTS: Among 20,695 lobectomies performed, 2449 (11.8%) patients had POSVT, including 1116 (5.4%) with isolated POSVT and 1333 (6.4%) with POSVT with other complications. Clinical predictors of POSVT included age ≥75 years, male gender, white race, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, thoracotomy surgical approach, and pulmonary complications. POSVT was associated with an increase of: stroke (odds ratio [OR] 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-2.94); in-hospital death (OR 1.85; 95% CI 1.45-2.35); LOS (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.29-1.37); and readmission (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.04-1.60). The stroke rate was <1% in patients who had isolated POSVT, and 1.5% in patients with POSVT with other complications. Patients with isolated POSVT had increased readmission and LOS, and a marginal increase in stroke rate, compared with patients with an uncomplicated course. CONCLUSIONS: POSVT is common in patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy and is associated with adverse outcomes. Comparative studies are needed to determine whether strict adherence to recently published guidelines will decrease the rate of stroke, readmission, and death after POSVT in thoracic surgical patients.

Provider Board Certification Status and Practice Patterns in Total Knee Arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: The presumption that board certification directly affects the quality of clinical care is a topic of ongoing discussion in medical literature. Recent studies have demonstrated disparities in patient outcomes associated with type of anesthesia provided for total knee arthroplasty (TKA); improved outcomes are associated with neuraxial (or regional) versus general anesthesia. Whether board-certified (BC) and non-board-certified (nBC) anesthesiologists make different choices in the anesthetic they administer is unknown. The authors sought to study potential associations of board certification status with anesthesia practice patterns for TKA. METHOD: The authors accessed records of anesthetics provided from 2010 to 2013 from the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry database. They identified TKA cases using Clinical Classifications Software and Current Procedural Terminology codes. The authors divided practitioners into two groups: those who were BC and those who were nBC. For each of these groups, the authors compared the following: their patient populations, the hospitals in which they worked, the nature of their practices, and the anesthetics they administered to their patients. RESULTS: BC anesthesiologists provided care for 81.7% of 97,508 patients having TKA; 18.3% were treated by nBC anesthesiologists. BC anesthesiologists administered neuraxial/regional anesthesia more frequently than nBC anesthesiologists (41.4% versus 21.2%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The rates at which regional/neuraxial anesthesia were administered for TKA were relatively low, and there were significant differences in practice patterns of BC and nBC anesthesiologists providing care for patients undergoing TKA. More research is necessary to understand the causes of these disparities.

Incidence and Factors Associated With Hospital Readmission After Pulmonary Lobectomy.

BACKGROUND: Readmission rates after major procedures are used to benchmark quality of care. We sought to identify readmission diagnoses and factors associated with readmission in patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy. METHODS: Analyzing the State Inpatient Databases (Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project), we reviewed all lobectomies performed from 2009 to 2011 in California, Florida, and New York. The group was subdivided into open (OL) versus minimally invasive lobectomy (MIL; thoracoscopic/robotic). We used unique identifiers to determine 30- and 90-day readmission rates and diagnoses and performed regression analysis to determine factors associated with readmission. RESULTS: A total of 22,647 lobectomies were identified (58.8% OL vs 41.2% MIL; median age, 68 years; median length of stay, 6 days). Most patients (59.8%) had routine discharge home (home health care, 29.4%; transfer to other facility, 8.8%; mortality, 1.9%). The 30-day readmission rate was 11.5% (OL 12.0% vs MIL 10.8%, p = 0.01), while the 90-day readmission rate was 19.8% (OL 21.1% vs MIL 17.9%, p < 0.001). The most common readmission diagnoses were pulmonary (24.1%), cardiovascular (16.3%), and complications related to surgical/medical procedures (15.1%). Preoperative factors associated with readmission included male gender (odds ratio, 1.19), Medicaid payer (odds ratio, 1.29), and several individual comorbidities. Surgical approach and postoperative complications were not independently associated with readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Readmission is a frequent event after pulmonary lobectomy and is strongly associated with preoperative demographic factors and comorbidities. Resources and services should be directed to patients at risk for readmission and multicomponent care pathways developed that may circumvent the need for repeat hospitalization.

Acute Pain Management/Regional Anesthesia.

Effective and efficient acute pain management strategies have the potential to improve medical outcomes, enhance patient satisfaction, and reduce costs. Pain management records are having an increasing influence on patient choice of health care providers and will affect future financial reimbursement. Dedicated acute pain and regional anesthesia services are invaluable in improving acute pain management. In addition, nonpharmacologic and alternative therapies, as well as information technology, should be viewed as complimentary to traditional pharmacologic treatments commonly used in the management of acute pain. The use of innovative technologies to improve acute pain management may be worthwhile for health care institutions.

Variability in anesthetic care for total knee arthroplasty: an analysis from the anesthesia quality institute.

Anesthetic practice utilization and related characteristics of total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) are understudied. The research team sought to characterize anesthesia practice patterns by utilizing National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry data of the Anesthesia Quality Institute. The proportions of primary TKAs performed between January 2010 and June 2013 using general anesthesia (GA), neuraxial anesthesia (NA), and regional anesthesia (RA) were determined. Utilization of anesthesia types was analyzed using anesthesiologist and patient characteristics and facility type. In all, 108 625 eligible TKAs were identified; 10.9%, 31.3%, and 57.9% were performed under RA, NA, and GA, respectively. Patients receiving RA had higher median age and higher frequency of American Society of Anesthesiology score ≥3 compared with those receiving other anesthesia types under study. Relative to GA (45.0%), when NA or RA were used, the anesthesiologist was more frequently board certified (75.5% and 62.1%, respectively; P < .0001). Anesthetic technique differences for TKAs exist, with variability associated with patient and provider characteristics.

Evaluation and treatment of perioperative corneal abrasions.

Purpose. To evaluate perioperative risk factors for corneal abrasion (CA) and to determine current care for perioperative CA in a tertiary care setting. Methods. Hospital-based, cross-sectional study. In Operating Room and Post-Anesthesia Care Units patients, a comparison of cases and controls was evaluated to elucidate risk factors, time to treatment, and most common treatments prescribed for corneal abrasions. Results. 86 cases of corneal abrasion and 89 controls were identified from the 78,542 surgical procedures performed over 2 years. Statistically significant risk factors were age (P = 0.0037), general anesthesia (P < 0.001), greater average estimated blood loss (P < 0.001), eyes taped during surgery (P < 0.001), prone position (P < 0.001), trendelenburg position (P < 0.001), and supplemental oxygen en route to and in the Post-Anesthesia Care Units (P < 0.001). Average time to complaint was 129 minutes. 94% of cases had an inpatient ophthalmology consult, with an average time to consult of 164 minutes. The most common treatment was artificial tears alone (40%), followed by combination treatment of antibiotic ointment and artificial tears (35.3%). Conclusions. Trendelenburg positioning is a novel risk factor for CA. Diagnosis and treatment of perioperative corneal abrasions by an ophthalmologist typically require three hours in the tertiary care setting.

Sleep apnea and total joint arthroplasty under various types of anesthesia: a population-based study of perioperative outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The presence of sleep apnea (SA) among surgical patients has been associated with significantly increased risk of perioperative complications. Although regional anesthesia has been suggested as a means to reduce complication rates among SA patients undergoing surgery, no data are available to support this association. We studied the association of the type of anesthesia and perioperative outcomes in patients with SA undergoing joint arthroplasty. METHODS: Drawing on a large administrative database (Premier Inc), we analyzed data from approximately 400 hospitals in the United States. Patients with a diagnosis of SA who underwent primary hip or knee arthroplasty between 2006 and 2010 were identified. Perioperative outcomes were compared between patients receiving general, neuraxial, or combined neuraxial-general anesthesia. RESULTS: We identified 40,316 entries for unique patients with a diagnosis for SA undergoing primary hip or knee arthroplasty. Of those, 30,024 (74%) had anesthesia-type information available. Approximately 11% of cases were performed under neuraxial, 15% under combined neuraxial and general, and 74% under general anesthesia. Patients undergoing their procedure under neuraxial anesthesia had significantly lower rates of major complications than did patients who received combined neuraxial and general or general anesthesia (16.0%, 17.2%, and 18.1%, respectively; P = 0.0177). Adjusted risk of major complications for those undergoing surgery under neuraxial or combined neuraxial-general anesthesia compared with general anesthesia was also lower (odds ratio, 0.83 [95% confidence interval, 0.74-0.93; P = 0.001] vs odds ratio, 0.90 [95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.99; P = 0.03]). CONCLUSIONS: Barring contraindications, neuraxial anesthesia may convey benefits in the perioperative outcome of SA patients undergoing joint arthroplasty. Further research is needed to enhance an understanding of the mechanisms by which neuraxial anesthesia may exert comparatively beneficial effects.