Cochlear Implantation Under Local Anesthesia With Conscious Sedation in the Elderly: First 100 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: To report the outcomes on a large series of elderly patients who underwent cochlear implantation (CI) surgery under local anesthesia with conscious sedation (LA-CS). METHODS: Retrospective chart review on 100 consecutive elderly patients (> 65 years) who underwent CI with LA-CS at a tertiary care center between August 2013 and January 2020. An age-matched control group of 50 patients who underwent CI with general anesthesia (GA) are used for comparison. Outcomes measured included time in the operating room, time in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), and rate of adverse events. RESULTS: Cochlear implant surgery under LA-CS was successfully performed in 99 (99%) patients. One patient requiring conversion to GA intraoperatively. No patients in the LA-CS group experienced cardiopulmonary adverse events; however, three patients (6%) in the GA group experienced minor events including atrial fibrillation and/or demand ischemia. Overnight observation in the hospital due to postoperative medical concerns or prolonged wake-up from anesthesia was required in one patient (1%) from the LA-CS cohort and 12 patients (24%) from the GA cohort. Perioperative adverse events exclusive to the LA-CS group included severe intraoperative vertigo (8%), temporary facial nerve paresis (3%), and wound infection (1%). The average amount of time spent in the operating room was 37 minutes less for procedures performed under LA-CS compared to GA (P < .05). The average amount of time in recovery was similar for both groups (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Cochlear implant surgery under LA-CS offers many benefits and is a safe, feasible, and cost-effective alternative to GA when performed by experienced CI surgeons. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 131:E946-E951, 2021.

Office-based vs. operating room-performed laryngopharyngeal surgery: a review of cost differences.

PURPOSE: Office-based transnasal flexible endoscopic surgery under topical anesthesia has recently been developed as an alternative for transoral laryngopharyngeal surgery under general anesthesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in health care costs between the two surgical settings. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were searched for studies reporting on costs of laryngopharyngeal procedures that could either be performed in the office or operating room (i.e., laser surgery, biopsies, vocal fold injection, or hypopharyngeal or esophageal dilation). Quality assessment of the included references was performed. RESULTS: Of 2953 identified studies, 13 were included. Quality assessment revealed that methodology differed significantly among the included studies. All studies reported lower costs for procedures performed in the office compared to those performed in the operating room. The variation within reported hospital and physician charges was substantial. CONCLUSION: Office-based laryngopharyngeal procedures under topical anesthesia result in lower costs compared to similar procedures performed under general anesthesia.

Operator-Directed Procedural Sedation in the Congenital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the method of procedural sedation and outcomes for congenital cardiac catheterization procedures. BACKGROUND: The safety of operator-directed sedation (ODS) in the pediatric/congenital cardiac catheterization laboratory has been questioned. To our knowledge, the relative safety of ODS versus general anesthesia (GA) in these cases has not to date been critically evaluated. METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort study was performed to compare the relative safety, cost, and times of catheterization procedures performed with ODS and those performed with GA from a cardiac anesthesiologist. The risk of adverse outcomes was compared using propensity-score-adjusted models. Using the same propensity score, procedure times and relative charges were also compared. RESULTS: Over the study period, 4,424 procedures in 2,547 patients were studied. Of these, 27% of cases were performed with ODS. ODS procedures were 70% diagnostic procedures, 17% device closure of patent ductus arteriosus, 5% balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty, and 3% pulmonary artery angioplasty. The risk of adverse event in adjusted models for ODS cases was significantly lower than in GA cases (odds ratio: 0.66; 95% confidence interval: 0.45 to 0.95; p = 0.03). Total room time and case time were also significantly shorter (p < 0.001). Professional (charge ratio: 0.88; p < 0.001) and hospital (charge ratio: 0.84; p < 0.001) charges for ODS cases were also lower than those for GA cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that clinical judgment can identify subjects in whom ODS is not associated with increased risk of adverse events. The use of ODS was associated with reduced case times and charges. In combination, these findings suggest that the selective use of ODS can allow for greater efficiency and higher value care without sacrificing safety.

Rationale and design of PASSAT - patients' satisfaction with local or general anaesthesia in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial with a non-randomised side arm.

BACKGROUND: Although general anaesthesia (GA) with one-lung ventilation is the current standard of care, minor thoracoscopic surgery, i.e. treatment of pleural effusions, biopsies and small peripheral pulmonary wedge resections, can also be performed using local anaesthesia (LA), analgosedation and spontaneous breathing. Whilst the feasibility and safety of LA have been demonstrated, its impact on patient satisfaction remains unclear. Most studies evaluating patient satisfaction lack control groups or do not meet psychometric criteria. We report the design of the PASSAT trial (PAtientS' SATisfaction in thoracic surgery - general vs. local anaesthesia), a randomised controlled trial with a non-randomised side arm. METHODS: Patients presenting for minor thoracoscopic surgery and physical eligibility for GA and LA are randomised to surgery under GA (control group) or LA (intervention group). Those who refuse to be randomised are asked to attend the study on the basis of their own choice of anaesthesia (preference arm) and will be analysed separately. The primary endpoint is patient satisfaction according to a psychometrically validated questionnaire; secondary endpoints are complication rates, capnometry, actual costs and cost effectiveness. The study ends after inclusion of 54 patients in each of the two randomised study groups. DISCUSSION: The PASSAT study is the first randomised controlled trial to systematically assess patients' satisfaction depending on LA or GA. The study follows an interdisciplinary approach, and its results may also be applicable to other surgical disciplines. It is also the first cost study based on randomised samples. Comparison of the randomised and the non-randomised groups may contribute to satisfaction research. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00013661 . Registered on 23 March 2018.

Anaesthesia for ear surgery in remote or resource-constrained environments.

BACKGROUND: The successful provision of middle-ear surgery requires appropriate anaesthesia. This may take the form of local or general anaesthesia; both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Local anaesthesia is simple to administer and does not require the additional personnel required for general anaesthesia. In the low-resource setting, it can provide a very safe and effective means of allowing middle-ear surgery to be successfully completed. However, some middle-ear surgery is too complex to consider performing under local anaesthesia and here general anaesthesia will be required. CONCLUSION: This article highlights considerations for performing middle-ear surgery in a safe manner when the available resources may be more limited than those expected in high-income settings. There are situations where local anaesthesia with sedation may prove a useful compromise of the two techniques.

Assessing the outcomes, risks, and costs of local versus general anesthesia: A review with implications for cutaneous surgery.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data providing direct comparison of outcomes, complications, and costs between general and local anesthesia in cutaneous surgery. OBJECTIVE: Analyze the literature from dermatologic and other specialties to compare outcomes, risks, and costs of general and local anesthesia. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of case comparison studies from other specialties comparing outcomes, risks, and/or costs in local versus general anesthesia was performed. A review of the literature from dermatology and other specialties was included. RESULTS: A total of 51 studies were selected; 41 of them directly examined outcomes in procedures performed under local and general anesthesia, and none found a significant difference in outcomes. A total of 41 studies measured adverse effects. Of these, 15 studies (36.6%) report significantly better outcomes between the 2 techniques. Only 2 studies (4.9%) report significantly improved outcomes with use of general anesthesia; 15 of 36 studies (41.7%) report fewer adverse events in local anesthesia. Of the 13 studies that examined costs, all (100%) found significantly decreased costs with use of local anesthesia. LIMITATIONS: These data cannot be seamlessly applied to all cases of cutaneous surgery. CONCLUSION: Local anesthesia techniques provide outcomes equal to or better than general anesthesia and with significantly lower costs.

Cost analysis of injection laryngoplasty performed under local anaesthesia versus general anaesthesia: an Australian perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a cost analysis of injection laryngoplasty performed in the operating theatre under local anaesthesia and general anaesthesia. METHODS: The retrospective study included patients who had undergone injection laryngoplasty as day cases between July 2013 and March 2016. Cost data were obtained, along with patient demographics, anaesthetic details, type of injectant, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, length of stay, total operating theatre time and surgeon procedure time. RESULTS: A total of 20 cases (general anaesthesia = 6, local anaesthesia = 14) were included in the cost analysis. The mean total cost under general anaesthesia (AU$2865.96 ± 756.29) was significantly higher than that under local anaesthesia (AU$1731.61 ± 290.29) (p < 0.001). The mean operating theatre time, surgeon procedure time and length of stay were all significantly lower under local anaesthesia compared to general anaesthesia. Time variables such as operating theatre time and length of stay were the most significant predictors of the total costs. CONCLUSION: Procedures performed under local anaesthesia in the operating theatre are associated with shorter operating theatre time and length of stay in the hospital, and provide significant cost savings. Further savings could be achieved if local anaesthesia procedures were performed in the office setting.

Cochlear implantation under conscious sedation with local anesthesia; Safety, Efficacy, Costs, and Satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety, efficiency, cost effectiveness, and satisfaction of patients undergoing cochlear implantation under conscious sedation versus general anesthesia. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review of 20 patients who underwent cochlear implantation under conscious sedation which was compared to 20 age-matched patients where surgery was performed under general anesthesia. METHODS: Perioperative times, length of stay, anesthesia drug costs, postoperative complications, and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Conscious sedation was associated with decreased drug costs, surgery time, and anesthesia time. Length of stay was significantly longer for patients undergoing general anesthesia. Patient satisfaction was superior with conscious sedation. Perioperative morbidity was not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Conscious sedation for cochlear implantation is a safe, efficient, and cost-effective alternative to general anesthesia. The efficacy of conscious sedation for cochlear implant surgery may expand the treatment of profound hearing loss to the elderly who are deemed too sick for general anesthesia or are fearful of the cognitive or medical consequences of general anesthesia.

Effects of diagnosis-related group payment on health-care provider behaviors: A consecutive three-period study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of diagnosis-related group (DRG) payments on health-care providers' behavior and the potential best course of action to make a profit under a DRG payment mechanism. METHODS: This is a natural experiment study with a tertiary hospital-based dataset. Under a consecutive three-period (3 years) or 12-period (12 seasons) design, length of stay, medical cost with detailed items, the percentage of general anesthesia (GA), and the percentage of receiving additional operations were compared. Furthermore, the differences between negative- and positive-profit groups were also examined. RESULTS: There was no difference in the length of stay and total medical cost after the launch of the DRG payment scheme. However, the percentage of additional operations increased significantly. In addition, there were reduced costs of radiological images and medication, a reduced percentage of GA, fewer patients undergoing additional operations, and a higher rate of complications or comorbidities in the "positive-profit group." CONCLUSION: The introduction of DRG payment resulted in significantly reduced examination fee, slightly decreased medical costs without significant difference in several detailed items, a reduced number of GA cases without statistical significance, and more patients receiving additional operations. The possible solution to make a profit under the DRG payment scheme is to curtail the costs of radiological images and medication, lower GA percentage, perform fewer additional operations, and correct recording of complications or comorbidities.

Cost-Effectiveness of Reduced Waiting Time for Head and Neck Cancer Patients due to a Lean Process Redesign.

BACKGROUND: Compared with new technologies, the redesign of care processes is generally considered less attractive to improve patient outcomes. Nevertheless, it might result in better patient outcomes, without further increasing costs. Because early initiation of treatment is of vital importance for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), these care processes were redesigned. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness of this redesign. METHODS: An economic (Markov) model was constructed to evaluate the biopsy process of suspicious lesion under local instead of general anesthesia, and combining computed tomography and positron emission tomography for diagnostics and radiotherapy planning. Patients treated for HNC were included in the model stratified by disease location (larynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and oral cavity) and stage (I-II and III-IV). Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: Waiting time before treatment start reduced from 5 to 22 days for the included patient groups, resulting in 0.13 to 0.66 additional quality-adjusted life-years. The new workflow was cost-effective for all the included patient groups, using a ceiling ratio of €80,000 or €20,000. For patients treated for tumors located at the larynx and oral cavity, the new workflow resulted in additional quality-adjusted life-years, and costs decreased compared with the regular workflow. The health care payer benefited €14.1 million and €91.5 million, respectively, when individual net monetary benefits were extrapolated to an organizational level and a national level. CONCLUSIONS: The redesigned care process reduced the waiting time for the treatment of patients with HNC and proved cost-effective. Because care improved, implementation on a wider scale should be considered.

Carotid endarterectomy­safe and effective in a neurosurgeon's hands: a 25-year single-surgeon experience.

OBJECTIVE: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a procedure performed by both vascular surgeons and neurosurgeons in the UK. We present a single neurosurgeon's experience of 728 CEAs over 25 years, performed under both general and local anesthesia, and discuss the results in this context. Our objective was to report on the efficacy of CEA in the hands of a neurosurgeon. METHODS: Prospective outcome data were collected for all patients who underwent CEA performed by the senior author (A.D.M.) from 1987 to 2011. Data evaluated included patient age, sex, surgical indication, preoperative characteristics, diagnostic modalities used, shunt usage, operative time, any neurological deterioration during or after surgery, and early postoperative problems. Outcome measures used were 30-day death and 30-day disabling stroke. The results were tabulated and analyzed using JMP 8.0.2 (SAS Inc., Cary, NC). RESULTS: The 30-day death rate was 0.8% and the 30-day disabling stroke rate was 1.7% in our series. The mean operative time was 135 minutes (±38.1), and the mean clamp time was 28.4 minutes (±8.5). In the subset of patients who had the operation performed under local anesthesia (n = 616), the disabling stroke rate was 1.6% and the death rate was 0.6%. In the subset of asymptomatic patients (n = 194), the 30-day death and 30-day disabling stroke rates were each 1%. Postoperative complications were uncommon. CONCLUSIONS: According to our data, CEA under local anesthesia is safe procedure in the hands of a neurosurgeon and would be recommended according to the clinical presentation and local guidelines.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy under local anaesthesia versus general anaesthesia: reliability and cost-effectiveness analysis in 153 patients with malignant melanoma.

AIM: The aim of our study was to evaluate feasibility, reliability and cost-benefit balance of sentinel node (SN) biopsies conducted under local anaesthesia (LA) in patients affected by stage I-B or II cutaneous melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out in 153 patients, evaluating the number of harvested lymph nodes, perioperative and postoperative complications, operating time and operating room costs, comparing interventions under LA and general anaesthesia (GA). Operations were carried out under LA in 112 cases (73%) and under GA in the remaining 41(27%). RESULTS: The mean number of removed SN was overall higher in the GA group but was not significantly different under LA with respect to the subgroups of axillary biopsies. No difference was noted in the number of complications. Operating time was significantly shorter under LA, with significantly lower costs. CONCLUSION: LA for groin and axillary SN biopsies can be a reliable and effective alternative to GA in melanoma patients, with shorter operating time, lower costs and without the side-effects and risks associated with GA.

Cost-effectiveness of primary abdominal wall hernia repair in a 364-bed provincial hospital of Spain.

PURPOSE: Primary abdominal hernia is a prevalent condition that weighs heavily on human and financial health-care resources (e.g., 1.12% of the total budget of our hospital in 2008). Tension-free hernioplasty is the standard repair procedure, but the anesthetic technique varies, including local anesthesia with sedation (Lsed), regional (Reg), and general (Gen) anesthesia. As the cost-outcome relation of different anesthetic options has never been examined in our health district, we proposed to identify the most cost-effective anesthetic technique out of three options for primary abdominal hernia repair in terms of clinical outcome and health-care economics in this retrospective review. METHODS: The study sample of 400 patients with primary abdominal hernia in 2008 underwent tension-free hernioplasty using one of three anesthetic techniques: 74 Lsed, 283 Reg, and 43 Gen. The comparability of outcomes was ensured by dividing the sample into homogeneous groups according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification (ASA 1 and 2) and adjusting for technical complexity, risk factors, and anatomic location. RESULTS: The clinical outcome of hernioplasty with Lsed was significantly better in terms of shorter hospital stay, lower early- and intermediate-term complication rate, and shorter time to recovery after discharge. The short-term recurrence rate did not differ between groups. The mean cost per hernioplasty procedure was 3,270.37 (Lsed), 4,740.37 (Reg), and 7,318.44 (Gen). CONCLUSION: The cost-effectiveness and incremental cost per patient showed the advantage of hernioplasty with Lsed versus Reg (794.59) and Lsed versus Gen (704.01), respectively.

Comparison of costs for video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy and open lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: To promote the broad use of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for lobectomy (VATSL) in the management of lung cancer, it should be proved cost-effective, especially in the current cost-sensitive climate. This study evaluated and compared the costs of VATSL and open lobectomy (OL) and analyzed how the surgeon's experience level with VATSL affected the cost. METHODS: In this study, 86 patients in a VATSL group and 97 patients in an OL group underwent surgery for lung cancer. Cost comparisons were performed for the VATSL and OL groups between patients who had no complications and patients with and without complications according to tumor location and the learning period of the surgeon. RESULTS: Postoperative complications occurred for 56 patients (30.6%) (14 VATSL vs 42 OL patients; p < 0.05). Patients who underwent VATSL had significant reductions in both chest tube duration (5.4 vs 9.1 days; p = 0.000) and length of hospital stay (7.1 vs 12.0 days; p = 0.000). The mean operation time for VATSL was not significantly longer than for OL (145.8 vs 136.4 min; p = 0.782). The total hospital cost (i.e., that paid by the patient and national insurance combined) was lower for VATSL than for OL according to comparisons both among all patients ($5,391 vs $5,593, respectively) and among only noncomplicated patients ($4,684 vs $4,769, respectively). In terms of tumor location, the total hospital cost for the VATSL group was lower than for the OL group when the surgery was performed on the right lower lobe (RLL), left upper lobe (LUL), and left lower lobe (LLL). The costs were not significantly different between the two learning periods of the surgeons, except for the cost of anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: In Korea, VATSL for lung cancer had lower complication rates, shorter hospital stays, and lower total hospital costs than OL.

Reliability and cost-effectiveness of sentinel lymph node excision under local anaesthesia versus general anaesthesia for malignant melanoma: a retrospective analysis in 300 patients with malignant melanoma AJCC Stages I and II.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node excision (SLNE) for the detection of regional nodal metastases and staging of malignant melanoma has resulted in some controversies in international discussions, as it is a cost-intensive surgical intervention with potentially significant morbidity. OBJECTIVE: The present retrospective study seeks to clarify the effectiveness and reliability of SLNE performed under tumescent local anaesthesia (TLA) and whether SLNE performed under TLA can reduce costs and morbidity. Therefore, our study is a comparison of SLNE performed under TLA and general anaesthesia (GA). PATIENTS: We retrospectively analysed data from 300 patients with primary malignant melanoma with a Breslow index of ≥1.0 mm. RESULTS: Altogether, 211 (70.3%) patients underwent SLNE under TLA and 89 (29.7%) patients underwent SLNE under GA. A total of 637 sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) were removed. In the TLA group 1.98 SLN/patient and in the GA group 2.46 SLN/patient were removed (median value). Seventy patients (23.3%) had a positive SLN. No major complications occurred. The costs for SLNE were significantly less for the SLNE in a procedures room performed under TLA (mean € 30.64) compared with SLNE in an operating room under GA (mean € 326.14, P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, SLNE performed under TLA is safe, reliable, and cost-efficient and could become the new gold standard in sentinel lymph node diagnostic procedures.

[Descriptive analysis of work and trends in anaesthesiology from 2005 to 2006: quantitative and qualitative aspects of effects and evaluation of anaesthesia].

INTRODUCTION: In anaesthesiology, economic aspects have been insufficiently studied. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was the assessment of rational choice of the anaesthesiological services based on the analysis of the scope, distribution, trend and cost. METHODS: The costs of anaesthesiological services were counted based on "unit" prices from the Republic Health Insurance Fund. Data were analysed by methods of descriptive statistics and statistical significance was tested by Student's t-test and chi2-test. RESULTS: The number of general anaesthesia was higher and average time of general anaesthesia was shorter, without statistical significance (t-test, p = 0.436) during 2006 compared to the previous year. Local anaesthesia was significantly higher (chi2-test, p = 0.001) in relation to planned operation in emergency surgery. The analysis of total anaesthesiological procedures revealed that a number of procedures significantly increased in ENT and MFH surgery, and ophthalmology, while some reduction was observed in general surgery, orthopaedics and trauma surgery and cardiovascular surgery (chi2-test, p = 0.000). The number of analgesia was higher than other procedures (chi2-test, p = 0.000). The structure of the cost was 24% in neurosurgery, 16% in digestive (general) surgery,14% in gynaecology and obstetrics, 13% in cardiovascular surgery and 9% in emergency room. Anaesthesiological services costs were the highest in neurosurgery, due to the length anaesthesia, and digestive surgery due to the total number of general anaesthesia performed. CONCLUSION: It is important to implement pharmacoeconomic studies in all departments, and to separate the anaesthesia services for emergency and planned operations. Disproportions between the number of anaesthesia, surgery interventions and the number of patients in surgical departments gives reason to design relation database.