Tempo de espera para a realização de cirurgias / Waiting time for surgery

O tempo de espera para realização de cirurgias é um fenômeno complexo e desafiador, tanto em países desenvolvidos quanto em desenvolvimento, podendo variar de meses até anos, o que pode gerar insatisfação de pacientes, piora do prognóstico, perda funcional e custos financeiros elevados para os sistemas públicos de saúde (Barua et al., 2012; Rodrigues et al., 2020). Nesse sentido, em alguns países o paciente tem a garantia legal de que a cirurgia será realizada dentro de um intervalo máximo de tempo, por exemplo, 18 (dezoito) semanas na Inglaterra ­ NHS (Siciliani et al., 2015). Já a Nova Zelândia, define apenas 03 (três) grupos de pacientes: cirurgia (agendada), certeza de tratamento e tratamento ativo/reavaliação. Apenas pacientes do primeiro e segundo grupo recebem tratamento cirúrgico no prazo máximo de 06 (seis) meses. Aqueles que pertencem ao terceiro grupo, não entram na fila de espera e são reencaminhados para o médico generalista que controla seu estado de saúde, podendo mudar de grupo em caso de deterioração da condição de saúde (Siciliani et al., 2015; Srikumar et al., 2020)

The waiting time for surgeries is a complex and challenging phenomenon, both in developed and developing countries, and can vary from months to years, which can lead to patient dissatisfaction, worsening of the prognosis, functional loss and high financial costs for the patients. public health systems (Barua et al., 2012; Rodrigues et al., 2020). In this sense, in some countries the patient has a legal guarantee that the surgery will be performed within a maximum period of time, for example, 18 (eighteen) weeks in England ­ NHS (Siciliani et al., 2015). New Zealand, on the other hand, defines only 03 (three) groups of patients: surgery (scheduled), certainty of treatment and active treatment/reassessment. Only patients from the first and second groups receive surgical treatment within a maximum period of 06 (six) months. Those belonging to the third group do not enter the waiting list and are forwarded to the general practitioner who controls their health status, being able to change groups in case of deterioration of their health condition (Siciliani et al., 2015; Srikumar et al. ., 2020)

Evaluation of Postoperative Complication with Medically Necessary, Time-Sensitive Scoring System During Acute COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: High scores in the Medically Necessary, Time-Sensitive (MeNTS) scoring system, used for elective surgical prioritization during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, are assumed to be associated with worse outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the MeNTS scoring system in patients undergoing elective surgery during restricted capacity of our institution, with or without moderate or severe postoperative complications. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective observational study, MeNTS scores of patients undergoing elective operations during May and June 2020 were calculated. Postoperative complication severity (classified as Group Clavien-Dindo < II or Group Clavien-Dindo ≥ II), as well as Duke Activity Index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, presence of smoking, leukocytosis, lymphopenia, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), operation and anesthesia characteristics, intensive care requirement and duration, length of hospital stay, rehospitalization, and mortality were noted. RESULTS: There were 223 patients analyzed. MeNTS score was higher in the Clavien-Dindo ≥ II Group compared with the Clavien-Dindo < II Group (50.98 ± 8.98 vs 44.27 ± 8.90 respectively, p < 0.001). Duke activity status index (DASI) scores were lower, and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class, presence of smoking, leukocytosis, lymphopenia, elevated CRP, and intensive care requirement were higher in the Clavien-Dindo ≥ II Group (p < 0.01). Length of hospital stay was longer in the Clavien-Dindo ≥ II Group (15 [range 2-90] vs 4 [1-30] days; p < 0.001). Mortality was observed in 8 patients. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of MeNTS and DASI were 0.69 and 0.71, respectively, for predicting moderate/severe complications. CONCLUSIONS: Although significant, MeNTS score had low discriminating power in distinguishing patients with moderate/severe complications. Incorporation of a cardiovascular functional capacity measure could improve the scoring system.

New geographic model of care to manage the post-COVID-19 elective surgery aftershock in England: a retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The suspension of elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented and has resulted in record volumes of patients waiting for operations. Novel approaches that maximise capacity and efficiency of surgical care are urgently required. This study applies Markov multiscale community detection (MMCD), an unsupervised graph-based clustering framework, to identify new surgical care models based on pooled waiting-lists delivered across an expanded network of surgical providers. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study using Hospital Episode Statistics. SETTING: Public and private hospitals providing surgical care to National Health Service (NHS) patients in England. PARTICIPANTS: All adult patients resident in England undergoing NHS-funded planned surgical procedures between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The identification of the most common planned surgical procedures in England (high-volume procedures (HVP)) and proportion of low, medium and high-risk patients undergoing each HVP. The mapping of hospitals providing surgical care onto optimised groupings based on patient usage data. RESULTS: A total of 7 811 891 planned operations were identified in 4 284 925 adults during the 1-year period of our study. The 28 most common surgical procedures accounted for a combined 3 907 474 operations (50.0% of the total). 2 412 613 (61.7%) of these most common procedures involved 'low risk' patients. Patients travelled an average of 11.3 km for these procedures. Based on the data, MMCD partitioned England into 45, 16 and 7 mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive natural surgical communities of increasing coarseness. The coarser partitions into 16 and seven surgical communities were shown to be associated with balanced supply and demand for surgical care within communities. CONCLUSIONS: Pooled waiting-lists for low-risk elective procedures and patients across integrated, expanded natural surgical community networks have the potential to increase efficiency by innovatively flexing existing supply to better match demand.

Perioperative Prescribing Practices of Extended-Release Opioids in Noncancer Surgical Patients, 2015-2018.

BACKGROUND: Extended-release (ER) opioids are indicated for the management of persistent moderate to severe pain in patients requiring around-the-clock opioid analgesics for an extended period of time. Concerns have been raised regarding safety of ER opioids due to its potential for abuse and dependence. However, little is known about perioperative prescribing practices of ER opioids. This study assessed perioperative prescribing practices of ER opioids in noncancer surgical patients stratified by type of opioid exposure prior to admission and examined predictors of postoperative opioid administration in oral morphine equivalents (OME). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using the University of California San Francisco Medical Center electronic health record data. This study included 25,396 adult noncancer patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia in the period 2015-2018. The primary study outcome was predictors of postoperative administration of opioids in hospitalized surgical patients. Secondary outcomes included patients discontinued and initiated on ER opioids during their hospital stay. RESULTS: substance use disorder diagnosis and use of opioids, surgery type, and postoperative administration of nonopioid analgesics were associated with postoperative administration of opioids (P < .0001). The estimated adjusted mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) of postoperative administration of OME prior to admission in ER opioid users (170.08 mg; 147.08-196.67) was twice the amount for opioid-naïve patients (81.36 mg; 70.7-93.63; P < .0001). One in 5 prior to admission ER opioid users were weaned off ER opioids while hospitalized without adversely affecting their postoperative pain or hospital length of stay (LOS). Four of 5 patients who used ER opioids prior to admission also received ER opioids after surgery, whereas, 1 in 100 opioid-naïve patients received ER opioids during their hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: We found significant variability in the perioperative prescribing practices of ER opioids in hospitalized noncancer surgical patients by use of opioids prior to admission and surgery type. Pain medicine practitioners and surgeons may play a significant role tackling the surgery-related risk of exposure to ER opioids and decreasing opioid-related complications.

Triaging Interventional Pain Procedures During COVID-19 or Related Elective Surgery Restrictions: Evidence-Informed Guidance from the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP).

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the pain and suffering of chronic pain patients due to stoppage of "elective" interventional pain management and office visits across the United States. The reopening of America and restarting of interventional techniques and elective surgical procedures has started. Unfortunately, with resurgence in some states, restrictions are once again being imposed. In addition, even during the Phase II and III of reopening, chronic pain patients and interventional pain physicians have faced difficulties because of the priority selection of elective surgical procedures.Chronic pain patients require high intensity care, specifically during a pandemic such as COVID-19. Consequently, it has become necessary to provide guidance for triaging interventional pain procedures, or related elective surgery restrictions during a pandemic. OBJECTIVES: The aim of these guidelines is to provide education and guidance for physicians, healthcare administrators, the public and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal is to restore the opportunity to receive appropriate care for our patients who may benefit from interventional techniques. METHODS: The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) has created the COVID-19 Task Force in order to provide guidance for triaging interventional pain procedures or related elective surgery restrictions to provide appropriate access to interventional pain management (IPM) procedures in par with other elective surgical procedures. In developing the guidance, trustworthy standards and appropriate disclosures of conflicts of interest were applied with a section of a panel of experts from various regions, specialties, types of practices (private practice, community hospital and academic institutes) and groups. The literature pertaining to all aspects of COVID-19, specifically related to epidemiology, risk factors, complications, morbidity and mortality, and literature related to risk mitigation and stratification was reviewed. The evidence -- informed with the incorporation of the best available research and practice knowledge was utilized, instead of a simplified evidence-based approach. Consequently, these guidelines are considered evidence-informed with the incorporation of the best available research and practice knowledge. RESULTS: The Task Force defined the medical urgency of a case and developed an IPM acuity scale for elective IPM procedures with 3 tiers. These included urgent, emergency, and elective procedures. Examples of urgent and emergency procedures included new onset or exacerbation of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), acute trauma or acute exacerbation of degenerative or neurological disease resulting in impaired mobility and inability to perform activities of daily living. Examples include painful rib fractures affecting oxygenation and post-dural puncture headaches limiting the ability to sit upright, stand and walk. In addition, emergency procedures include procedures to treat any severe or debilitating disease that prevents the patient from carrying out activities of daily living. Elective procedures were considered as any condition that is stable and can be safely managed with alternatives. LIMITATIONS: COVID-19 continues to be an ongoing pandemic. When these recommendations were developed, different stages of reopening based on geographical regulations were in process. The pandemic continues to be dynamic creating every changing evidence-based guidance. Consequently, we provided evidence-informed guidance. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges in IPM creating needless suffering for pain patients. Many IPM procedures cannot be indefinitely postponed without adverse consequences. Chronic pain exacerbations are associated with marked functional declines and risks with alternative treatment modalities. They must be treated with the concern that they deserve. Clinicians must assess patients, local healthcare resources, and weigh the risks and benefits of a procedure against the risks of suffering from disabling pain and exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

Caracterização das guias de autorização de internação hospitalar (aih) para cirurgias eletivas / Characterization of hospital admission authorization guidelines (aih) for elective surgeries / Caracterización de las directrices de autorización hospitalaria (aih) para cirugías electivas

Introdução: A guia de Autorização de Internação Hospitalar (AIH) é um importante dispositivo de gestão, pois suas informações subsidiam o faturamento e pagamento de procedimentos médicos hospitalares e ou internações aos prestadores de serviços de saúde mediante avaliação e autorização prévia das secretarias de saúde a nível municipal, estadual e federal. Objetivo: Caracterizar as guias de Autorização de Internação Hospitalar para cirurgias eletivas do Complexo Regulador de Ribeirão Preto-SP. Método: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, observacional, de abordagem quantitativa, realizado na Secretaria Municipal de Saúde (SMS) do município de Ribeirão PretoSP, junto à Central de Regulação Médica, especificamente Central de Regulação de Cirurgias Eletivas. Resultados: Destacaram-se: liberação da maioria das guias n=212 (53,00%), cancelamento por não localização do usuário n=102 (30,18%), devolução por inadequação no código de procedimento n=91 (25,42%), grupo de doenças do aparelho digestivo n=598 (26,15%), especialidade ortopedia n=459 (20,07%), usuários de Ribeirão Preto n=2132 (93,22) e prestador de serviços Santa Casa de Misericórdia n=995(43,51%). Conclusão: Em virtude dos resultados apontados neste estudo conclui-se que estes oferecem subsídios para implementação de ações visando a redução de inadequações nas guias de AIH e consequente melhoria na qualidade das informações, bem como agilidade na realização das cirurgias eletivas, de modo a favorecer tratamento oportuno aos usuários do sistema de saúde.(AU)

Introduction: The Hospital Admission Authorization Guide (AIH) is an important management device, because their information subsidizes the billing and payment of hospital medical procedures and or hospitalizations to health service providers through evaluation and authorization provided by the municipal, state and federal health departments. Objective: To characterize the Hospital Admission Authorization Guidelines for elective surgeries of the Regulatory Complex of Ribeirão Preto-SP. Method: This is a descriptive, retrospective, observational, quantitative approach study, conducted at the Municipal Health Department (SMS) of the city of Ribeirão Preto-SP, next to the Central Medical Regulation, specifically Central Regulation of Elective Surgeries. Results: We highlight: release of most guides n=212 (53.00%), cancellation due to non-user location n=102 (30.18%), return due to inadequacy in procedure code n=91 (25.42%), group of digestive tract diseases n=598 (26.15%), specialty orthopedics n=459 (20.07%), users of Ribeirão Preto n=2132 (93.22) and service provider Santa Casa de Misericórdia n=995 (43.51%). Conclusion: Due to the results pointed out in this study, it is concluded that these offer subsidies for the implementation of actions aimed at reducing inadequacies in the AIH guidelines and consequent improvement in the quality of information, as well as agility in performing elective surgeries, in order to favor timely treatment to users of the health system.(AU)

Introducción: La Guía de Autorización de Hospitalización (AIH) es un dispositivo de gestión importante, ya que su información subsidia la facturación y pago de procedimientos médicos hospitalarios y/o hospitalizaciones a proveedores de servicios de salud mediante evaluación previa y autorización de los departamentos de salud para nivel municipal, estatal y federal. Objetivo: Caracterizar las guías de Autorización de Hospitalización para cirugías electivas en el Complejo Regulador de Ribeirão Preto-SP. Método: Se trata de un estudio observacional, descriptivo, retrospectivo, con abordaje cuantitativo, realizado en la Secretaría Municipal de Salud (SMS) de la ciudad de Ribeirão Preto-SP, contigua al Centro de Regulación Médica, específicamente el Centro de Regulación de Cirugía Electiva. Resultados: Se destacan: liberación de la mayoría de guías n = 212 (53,00%), cancelación por falta de ubicación del usuario n = 102 (30,18%), devolución por inadecuación en el código de procedimiento n = 91 (25, 42%), grupo de enfermedades digestivas n = 598 (26,15%), especialidad de ortopedia n = 459 (20,07%), usuarios de Ribeirão Preto n = 2132 (93,22) y prestador de servicios Santa Casa de Misericordia n = 995 (43,51%). Conclusión: A la vista de los resultados señalados en este estudio, se concluye que estos ofrecen subsidios para la implementación de acciones encaminadas a reducir las deficiencias en los lineamientos de AIH y la consecuente mejora en la calidad de la información, así como agilidad en la realización de cirugías electivas, con el fin de tratamiento oportuno de los usuarios del sistema de salud.(AU)

[Cesarean sections in the Centre-Val de Loire region: Practices and indications-the Robson Classification]. / Césarienne en Centre-Val de Loire ­ Pratiques et Indications ­ Classification de Robson.

BACKGROUND: To study the cesarean section (c-section) practices in the French Centre-Val de Loire region: incidence of planned c-section and rate variations between maternities, incidence of potentially avoidable cesarean sections. METHODS: The data were extracted from the 2016 regional birth register, which permitted classification of each planned c-section according to the pre-existing risk of c-section (high or low) as defined by the Robson classification. To enhance the data, especially the indications for c-section, which are not included in the register, a survey was conducted from September 2016 to February 2017 in all of the 20 maternities in the region. RESULTS: In 2016, nearly 26,000 women gave birth in the CVL region, of whom 19.2% by c-section (7.0% planned c-sections). The planned c-section rate was higher for breech presentation and scarred uterus, and decreased according to level of the maternity (I 41% - II 35% - III 32%). Concerning the c-section indications, 1,979 c-sections were studied during the period (18.6% of births), including 762 planned c-sections (7.1% of births). Among them, 246 (32%) were potentially avoidable, mainly isolated indications of scarred uterus with only one previous c-section or breech presentation, and 17 due to unfavorable radiologic pelvimetry in nulliparous women. CONCLUSION: Specific actions were identified: targeted use of radiologic pelvimetry, targeted c-section on scarred uterus with only one previous cesarean section or breech presentation, as recommended by the national guidelines. The Robson classification should be widely used to evaluate and enhance practices, in particularly through painstakingly interpreted inter-maternity comparisons.

Classification of hospital admissions into emergency and elective care: a machine learning approach.

Rising admissions from emergency departments (EDs) to hospitals are a primary concern for many healthcare systems. The issue of how to differentiate urgent admissions from non-urgent or even elective admissions is crucial. We aim to develop a model for classifying inpatient admissions based on a patient's primary diagnosis as either emergency care or elective care and predicting urgency as a numerical value. We use supervised machine learning techniques and train the model with physician-expert judgments. Our model is accurate (96%) and has a high area under the ROC curve (>.99). We provide the first comprehensive classification and urgency categorization for inpatient emergency and elective care. This model assigns urgency values to every relevant diagnosis in the ICD catalog, and these values are easily applicable to existing hospital data. Our findings may provide a basis for policy makers to create incentives for hospitals to reduce the number of inappropriate ED admissions.

Elective ambulatory surgical care in Ireland-why it needs to be better coded, classified and managed.

BACKGROUND: In the year to July 2017, surgical disciplines accounted for 73% of the total national inpatient and day case waiting list and, of these, day cases accounted for 72%. Their proper classification is therefore important so that patients can be managed and treated in the most suitable and efficient setting. AIMS: We set out to sub-classify the different elective surgical day cases treated in Irish public hospitals in order to assess their need to be managed as day cases and the consistency of practice between hospitals. METHODS: We analysed all elective day cases that came under the care of surgeons between January 2014 and December 2016 and sub-classified them into those that were (A) true day case surgical procedures; (B) minor surgery or outpatient procedures; (C) gastrointestinal endoscopies; (D) day case, non-surgical interventions and (E) unclassified or having no primary procedure identified. RESULTS: Of 813,236 day case surgical interventions performed over 3 years, 26% were adjudged to accord with group A, 41% with B, 23% with C, 5% with D and 5% with E. The ratio of A to B procedures did not vary significantly across the range of hospital types. However, there were some notable variations in coding and practices between hospitals. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that many day cases should have been performed as outpatient procedures and that there were variations in coding and practices between hospitals that could not be easily explained. Outpatient procedure coding and a better, more consistent, classification of day cases are both required to better manage this group of patients.

Coding in surgery: impact of a specialized coding proforma in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery.

BACKGROUND: Coding inaccuracies in surgery misrepresent the productivity of hospitals and outcome data of surgeons. The aim of this study was to audit the extent of coding inaccuracies in hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery and assess the financial impact of introducing a coding proforma. METHODS: Coding of patients who underwent elective HPB surgery over a 3-month period was audited. Codes were based on International Classification of Diseases 10 and Office of Population and Census Surveys-4 codes. A coding proforma was introduced and assessed. New human resource group codes were re-assigned and new tariffs calculated. A cost analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Prior to the introduction of the coding proforma, 42.0% of patients had the incorrect diagnosis and 48.5% had missing co-morbidities. In addition, 14.5% of primary procedures were incorrect and 37.6% had additional procedures that were not coded for at all. Following the introduction of the coding proforma, there was a 27.5% improvement in the accuracy of primary diagnosis (P < 0.001) and 21% improvement in co-morbidities (P = 0.002). There was a 7.2% improvement in the accuracy of coding primary procedures (P = not significant) and a 21% improvement in the accuracy of coding of additional procedures (P < 0.001). Financial loss as a result of coding inaccuracy over our 3-month study period was £56 073 with an estimated annual loss of £228 292. CONCLUSION: Coding in HPB surgery is prone to coding inaccuracies due to the complex nature of HPB surgery and the patient case-mix. A specialized coding proforma completed 'in theatre' significantly improves the accuracy of coding and prevents loss of income.

Gender disparities in red blood cell transfusion in elective surgery: a post hoc multicentre cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: A post hoc gender comparison of transfusion-related modifiable risk factors among patients undergoing elective surgery. SETTINGS: 23 Austrian centres randomly selected and stratified by region and level of care. PARTICIPANTS: We consecutively enrolled in total 6530 patients (3465 women and 3065 men); 1491 underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, 2570 primary unilateral total hip replacement (THR) and 2469 primary unilateral total knee replacement (TKR). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measures were the number of allogeneic and autologous red blood cell (RBC) units transfused (postoperative day 5 included) and differences in intraoperative and postoperative transfusion rate between men and women. Secondary outcomes included perioperative blood loss in transfused and non-transfused patients, volume of RBCs transfused, perioperative haemoglobin values and circulating red blood volume on postoperative day 5. RESULTS: In all surgical groups, the transfusion rate was significantly higher in women than in men (CABG 81 vs 49%, THR 46 vs 24% and TKR 37 vs 23%). In transfused patients, the absolute blood loss was higher among men in all surgical categories while the relative blood loss was higher among women in the CABG group (52.8 vs 47.8%) but comparable in orthopaedic surgery. The relative RBC volume transfused was significantly higher among women in all categories (CABG 40.0 vs 22.3; TKR 25.2 vs 20.2; THR 26.4 vs 20.8%). On postoperative day 5, the relative haemoglobin values and the relative circulating RBC volume were higher in women in all surgical categories. CONCLUSIONS: The higher transfusion rate and volume in women when compared with men in elective surgery can be explained by clinicians applying the same absolute transfusion thresholds irrespective of a patient's gender. This, together with the common use of a liberal transfusion strategy, leads to further overtransfusion in women.

New Zealand general practitioners' non-urgent referrals to surgeons: who and why?

AIM: To describe the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients referred by general practitioners (GPs) to both public and private sectors for non-urgent surgical assessment. METHOD: During 2004, a cohort of 1420 adult patients with the potential to benefit from elective surgery was recruited into the study by their GPs. GPs recorded patient demographics and reasons for referral. RESULTS: 345 out of 828 eligible GPs (42%) agreed to participate in the study and submitted data on 1603 referrals, 2.4 referrals per reporting week. After excluding ACC cases, data on 1420 referrals were analysed. Forty-two percent of those referred were male and 69% were European New Zealanders. The mean age was 55 years. The largest number of referrals were made to general surgery (37%), followed by orthopaedics (19%), gynaecology (12%), and plastic surgery (10%). The modal level of urgency was "routine" and in 24% of cases cancer was a possibility. The GP felt surgery was needed in 47% of cases, while in 73%, assistance with diagnosis and management was sought. In only 3% of eligible cases was no referral made. CONCLUSION: Elective surgical referral makes up a significant proportion of GP workload. In more than half of cases advice on diagnosis or management, rather than surgery, was sought, and in nearly two-thirds the patient was aged less than 65 years. Cancer control was a relatively frequent goal of referral. The very small number of cases where a desired referral was not made suggests that GP and patient expectations are adjusted to service capacity.

Calendario quirúrgico infantil / Pediatric surgical timetable

El calendario quirúrgico es una guía que intenta dar a conocer el momento más oportuno para la realización de la mayoría de las intervenciones quirúrgicas en el niño. Este calendario se modifica por el desarrollo de nuevas técnicas quirúrgicas. La elaboración de un calendario quirúrgico es beneficioso para obtener mejores resultados y ayuda al pediatra en la toma de decisiones

The surgical timetable is a practical guide that attempts to indicate the best moment for carrying out most of the surgical procedures to be performed in children. This timetable is modified depending on the introduction of new surgical techniques. The development of a surgical timetable improves results and helps the pediatrician in the decisionmaking process

A methodology to estimate the potential to move inpatient to one day surgery.

BACKGROUND: The proportion of surgery performed as a day case varies greatly between countries. Low rates suggest a large growth potential in many countries. Measuring the potential development of one day surgery should be grounded on a comprehensive list of eligible procedures, based on a priori criteria, independent of local practices. We propose an algorithmic method, using only routinely available hospital data to identify surgical hospitalizations that could have been performed as one day treatment. METHODS: Moving inpatient surgery to one day surgery was considered feasible if at least one surgical intervention was eligible for one day surgery and if none of the following criteria were present: intervention or affection requiring an inpatient stay, patient transferred or died, and length of stay greater than four days. The eligibility of a procedure to be treated as a day case was mainly established on three a priori criteria: surgical access (endoscopic or not), the invasiveness of the procedure and the size of the operated organ. Few overrides of these criteria occurred when procedures were associated with risk of immediate complications, slow physiological recovery or pain treatment requiring hospital infrastructure. The algorithm was applied to a random sample of one million inpatient US stays and more than 600 thousand Swiss inpatient stays, in the year 2002. RESULTS: The validity of our method was demonstrated by the few discrepancies between the a priori criteria based list of eligible procedures, and a state list used for reimbursement purposes, the low proportion of hospitalizations eligible for one day care found in the US sample (4.9 versus 19.4% in the Swiss sample), and the distribution of the elective procedures found eligible in Swiss hospitals, well supported by the literature. There were large variations of the proportion of candidates for one day surgery among elective surgical hospitalizations between Swiss hospitals (3 to 45.3%). CONCLUSION: The proposed approach allows the monitoring of the proportion of inpatient stay candidates for one day surgery. It could be used for infrastructure planning, resources negotiation and the surveillance of appropriate resource utilization.

Using routinely recorded ethnicity: analysis of waiting times for elective admissions by ethnic group.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether patients from non-white ethnic groups wait longer than white patients for elective in-patient admissions at St Mary's Hospital in London. METHODS: Patients who came off the waiting list for an elective inpatient admission between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001 were selected. A multivariable log linear model was developed to assess geometric mean waiting times for Black, Asian, Other and Missing ethnic groups compared to the White group, adjusted for age, sex, urgency and distance. RESULTS: Caution is needed in interpreting results, as a large number of patients had no usable ethnic code. There was no strong evidence that waiting times for ethnic groups were systematically different than for the White group. However, there was some evidence that white patients waited longer for a coronary arteriography than patients in other ethnic groups. This was partially explained by age, sex, clinical urgency and residential distance from St Mary's. CONCLUSIONS: The large proportion of patients with no usable ethnic code, lack of robust methods for case-mix adjustment and multiple ethnic categories makes analysis methodologically difficult. Regular and informative analysis of ethnic coded data is a necessary step in improving the accuracy and completeness of coding.

Clinical categorization for elective surgery in Victoria.

AIM: The aim of the present paper was to assess trends in clinician's utilization of urgency categories for elective surgery. METHODS: The present paper reviews the additions to the Victorian elective surgery waiting list for hip replacement and prostatectomy as recorded by the Elective Surgery Information System database. Review of general trends in utilization over two separate 12 month periods were undertaken. RESULTS: There is inconsistency in categorization of patients referred to the waiting list for hip joint replacement and prostatectomy. An increasing trend to categorize patients as semi-urgent (category 2) in preference to non-urgent (category 3) emerged over this period (category creep). Semi-urgent cases might be competing for access within the category 2 band with less urgent cases. CONCLUSIONS: There seems to be an increasing imbalance between demand for and availability of elective surgery for lower urgency elective surgical procedures. This imbalance, characterized by lengthening waiting times, means that not all patients will receive treatment within the clinically recommended waiting times. The variable approach to categorization of urgency suggests that the process lacks objectivity and consensus. Simple clinical tools to assist prioritization are currently being evaluated in Victoria (Australia) and other countries.