Impact of Ambulatory Surgery for Hemorrhoidal Disease on Clinical Outcomes and Institutional Costs / Impacto da cirurgia ambulatória para patologia hemorroidária nos resultados clínicos e custos

Abstract Objective Transanal hemorrhoidal artery ligation with mucopexy (ligation anopexy [LA]) and open hemorrhoidectomy (OH) can both be performed under local anesthesia. The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact and the cost-effectiveness of performing these techniques in an ambulatory setting of an Italian academic center on the postoperative outcome. Methods A series of 122 consecutive patients with grades II and III hemorrhoidal disease undergoing ambulatory surgical treatment of hemorrhoids in 2015 to 2018 (group A) was comparedwith 122 patients operated at the same institution in the same period (group H) in a hospital setting. The primary outcome was the number of days required to return to work/daily activities. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain and complications, costeffectiveness, patient satisfaction, and recurrence at 12 months. In group A, all the procedures were performed under local anesthesia with early discharge. In group H, the procedureswere performed under general or loco-regional anesthesia with hospital admission. Results The mean number of days required to return to work/daily activities was 8.4 ± 4.8 days in group A, compared with 12.5 ± 3 days in group H (p<0.001). The visual analog scale (VAS) pain score at 1 week, 2 and 3 weeks, and 1 month after surgery was lower for patients undergoing LA in the ambulatory setting (p<0.01). We observedmore postoperative complications in hospitalized (12.5%) than in ambulatory patients (7.5%) (p<0.001). The total mean direct costs per patient were significantly lower in the ambulatory setting versus the hospital stay group (351.3 versus 1,746 euros). Conclusion Implementing ambulatory surgery for hemorrhoids is feasible, safe, and cost-effective.

Resumo Objetivo A ligação transanal da artéria hemorroidária com mucopexia e a hemorroidectomia aberta (HA) podem ser realizadas em anestesia local. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar o impacto no resultado pós-operatório e a relação custo-eficácia da realização destas técnicas em ambiente ambulatorial de um centro acadêmico italiano no desfecho pós-operatório. Métodos Uma série de 122 pacientes consecutivos com patologia hemorroidária de graus II e III submetidos a cirurgia de hemorroidas em regime ambulatório de 2015 a 2018 (grupo A) foi comparada com 122 pacientes operados na mesma instituição no mesmo período (grupo H) por hospitalização. O desfecho primário foi o número de dias necessários para regressar ao trabalho/atividades diárias. Os desfechos secundários incluíram dor e complicações pós-operatórias, custo-eficácia, satisfação do paciente, e recidiva aos 12 meses. No grupo A, todos os procedimentos foram realizados em anestesia local. No grupo H, os procedimentos foram realizados em anestesia geral ou loco-regional. Resultados A espera média para o regresso ao trabalho foi de 8,4 ± 4,8 dias no grupo A em comparação com 12,5 ± 3 dias no grupo H (p<0,001). A pontuação na escala visual analógica (EVA) da dor 1 semana, 2 e 3 semanas, e 1 mês após a cirurgia foi mais baixa para os pacientes submetidos a cirurgia de ligadura com anopexia em ambiente ambulatorial (p<0,01). Observamosmais complicações pós-operatórias empacientes hospitalizados (12,5%) do que em pacientes ambulatórios (7,5%) (p<0,001). Os custos diretosmédios totais por paciente foram mais baixos em ambiente ambulatório do que no grupo de hospitalização (351,3 contra 1.746 euros). Conclusão A implementação da cirurgia ambulatória para hemorroidas é possível, segura e rentável.

Commercial valved spacers versus home-made spacers for delivering bronchodilator therapy in pediatric acute asthma: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Although valved spacers are the preferred method for administering metered-dose inhaler bronchodilators such as albuterol in pediatric acute asthma, their high cost and their lack of availability have limited their use, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Because of this, it is a common practice to use home-made spacers, although a formal analysis evaluating their cost-effectiveness is lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of home-made spacers compared to commercial valved spacers for delivering bronchodilator therapy in pediatric acute asthma. METHODS: A decision-analysis model was used to estimate health outcomes and costs of a simulated cohort of pediatric patients treated for acute asthma. Effectiveness parameters were obtained from a systematic review of the literature. Cost data were obtained from hospital bills and from the national manual of drug prices in Colombia. The study was carried out from the perspective of the national healthcare system in Colombia, a middle-income country (MIC). The main outcome of the model was avoidance of hospital admission. RESULTS: Base-case analysis showed that compared to commercial valved spacers, administering bronchodilators with home-made spacers results in lower overall treatment costs (US$126.75 vs. US$128.59 average cost per patient) without a significant difference in the probability of hospitalization avoided (0.8500 vs. 0.8500). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that in Colombia, an MIC, compared with commercial valved spacers, the use of home-made spacers for administering bronchodilator therapy is more cost-effective because it yields a similar probability of hospital admission at lower overall treatment costs.

Hospital Charges Associated with Central Venous Stenosis in Pediatric Patients Requiring Long-Term Central Venous Access.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hospital charges associated with central venous stenosis in pediatric patients requiring long-term central venous catheters, via associated charges and hospital length of stay (LOS). STUDY DESIGN: This institutional review board-approved retrospective review identified pediatric patients with central venous catheters and either short bowel syndrome (SBS) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) diagnosed between 2008 and 2015 using the Pediatric Health Information System. These 2 cohorts were selected because long-term central venous access is commonly required for survival. Prevalence of central venous stenosis, total number of admissions, procedures, LOS, and associated charges were recorded. Statistical analysis performed with Wilcoxon nonparametric and 2-sample t test with a significance of P < .05. RESULTS: Of 4952 patients with SBS and 4665 patients with ESRD, 169 (3.4%) patients with SBS and 191 (4.1%) patients with ESRD were diagnosed with central venous stenosis (360 patients total [3.7%]). The cumulative median admissions and LOS was higher in patients with SBS with central venous stenosis (15 admissions and 156 days) vs those without central venous stenosis (5 admissions and 110 days) (P < .001). The cumulative median number of admissions and LOS was higher in patients with ESRD with central venous stenosis (13 admissions and 72 days) vs those without central venous stenosis (7 admissions and 42 days) (P < .001). The mean cumulative charges for patients with SBS with central venous stenosis were higher than for those without central venous stenosis ($1.89 million vs $1.11 million, respectively) (P < .001). Similarly, the mean cumulative charges for patients with ESRD with central venous stenosis were higher than for those without central venous stenosis ($1.17 millions vs $702 000, respectively) (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients with central venous stenosis have significantly higher total charges, imaging charges, number of admissions, and longer LOS. Attention to mitigate the incidence of central venous stenosis in pediatric patients requiring long-term central venous access is warranted.

Complications of Serious Pediatric Conditions in the Emergency Department: Definitions, Prevalence, and Resource Utilization.

OBJECTIVES: To define and measure complications across a broad set of acute pediatric conditions in emergency departments using administrative data, and to assess the validity of these definitions by comparing resource utilization between children with and without complications. STUDY DESIGN: Using local consensus, we predefined complications for 16 acute conditions including appendicitis, diabetic ketoacidosis, ovarian torsion, stroke, testicular torsion, and 11 others. We studied patients under age 18 years using 3 data years from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statewide Databases of Maryland and New York. We measured complications by condition. Resource utilization was compared between patients with and without complications, including hospital length of stay, and charges. RESULTS: We analyzed 27 087 emergency department visits for a serious condition. The most common was appendicitis (n = 16 794), with 24.3% of cases complicated by 1 or more of perforation (24.1%), abscess drainage (2.8%), bowel resection (0.3%), or sepsis (0.9%). Sepsis had the highest mortality (5.0%). Children with complications had higher resource utilization: condition-specific length of stay was longer when complications were present, except ovarian and testicular torsion. Hospital charges were higher among children with complications (P < .05) for 15 of 16 conditions, with a difference in medians from $3108 (testicular torsion) to $13 7694 (stroke). CONCLUSIONS: Clinically meaningful complications were measurable and were associated with increased resource utilization. Complication rates determined using administrative data may be used to compare outcomes and improve healthcare delivery for children.

Risk Factors, Geographic Distribution, and Healthcare Burden of Symptomatic Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in the United States: Analysis of a Nationally Representative Database, 2000-2012.

OBJECTIVE: To assess risk factors, geographic distribution, length of stay, and total charges per case of symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV). STUDY DESIGN: We performed retrospective analyses of serial cross-sectional data using the Kids' Inpatient Database, a nationally representative sample of US pediatric hospital discharges, from 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012. Symptomatic cCMV was identified via use of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 771.1 among records with in-hospital birth that were accompanied by 1 or more characteristic symptoms. Demographic characteristics were compared with multivariable logistic regression. Temporal trend was assessed using linear regression. Charges were adjusted for inflation to 2012 US dollars. RESULTS: We identified 1349 cases of symptomatic cCMV (SE 56). Symptomatic cCMV was associated with non-Hispanic black race (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.37-2.10), government-sponsored insurance (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.34-2.83), and birth in the American South and West (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.35-2.09 and OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.23-2.09, respectively). In-hospital mortality and preterm birth rate ranged from 3.2%-6.8% and 50.4%-59.2%, respectively, without temporal changes. The geometric mean of total charges per case doubled from $45 771 (SE $8509) in 2000 to $89 846 (SE $10 358) in 2006 (P = .002) but did not change from 2006 to 2012. Length of stay in days was 15 (IQR 8-22) in 2000, 27 (IQR, 9-51) in 2009, and 18 (IQR, 8-47) in 2012. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic cCMV was associated with non-Hispanic black race, low socioeconomic status, and birth in the American South and West and resulted in substantial healthcare burden.

Cleft-Palate Repair: Does Hospital Case-Volume Impact Outcomes or Cost?

BACKGROUND: How hospital case-volume affects operative outcomes and cost continues to grow in importance. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of case volume with operative outcomes and cost in cleft palate repair. METHODS: Subjects undergoing cleft palate repair between 2004 and 2015 were identified in the Pediatric Health Information System. Outcomes were compared between two groups: those undergoing treatment at a high-volume institution, and those undergoing treatment at a low-volume institution. Primary outcomes were as follows: any complication, prolonged length of stay, and increased total cost. RESULTS: Over 20,000 patients (n = 20,320) from 49 institutions met inclusion criteria. On univariate analysis, those subjects who underwent treatment at a high-volume institution had a lower rate of overall complications (3.4 percent versus 5.1 percent; p < 0.001), and lower rates of prolonged length of stay (4.5 percent versus 5.8 percent; p < 0.001) and increased total cost (48.6 percent versus 50.9 percent; p = 0.002). In multivariate regression analyses, subjects treated in high-volume centers were less likely to experience any complication (OR, 0.678; p < 0.001) and were less likely to have an extended length of stay (OR, 0.82; p = 0.005). Subjects undergoing palate repair at a high-volume institution were no less likely to incur increased total cost (OR, 1.01; p = 0.805). CONCLUSION: In institutions performing a high volume of cleft palate repairs, subjects had significantly decreased odds of experiencing a complication or prolonged length of stay. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Efficacy of Human Botulism Immune Globulin for the Treatment of Infant Botulism: The First 12 Years Post Licensure.

OBJECTIVES: To report the efficacy of Human Botulism Immune Globulin Intravenous (BIG-IV) in the first 12 years following its licensure in 2003 and to characterize its use nationwide in treating patients with infant botulism. STUDY DESIGN: Medical records and billing information were collected for US patients treated with BIG-IV from 2003 to 2015. Length of hospital stay (LOS) and hospital charge information for treated patients were compared with the BIG-IV Pivotal Clinical Trial Placebo Group to quantify decreases in LOS and hospital charges. RESULTS: The use of BIG-IV reduced mean LOS from 5.7 to 2.2 weeks. This shortened hospital stay resulted in a mean decrease in hospital charges of $88 900 per patient. For all US patients 2003-2015, total decreases in LOS and hospital charges were 66.9 years and $86.2 million, respectively. The decrease in mean LOS was time dependent: BIG-IV treatment on hospital days 0-3 reduced mean LOS by 3.7 weeks (P <.001 vs the BIG-IV Pivotal Clinical Trial Placebo Group), on hospital days 4-7 by 2.6 weeks (P <.001 vs the BIG-IV Pivotal Clinical Trial Placebo Group) and on hospital days 8-10 by just 1 week (P = NS). Since licensure, 1192 patients in 48 states and Washington, DC, have been treated with BIG-IV. CONCLUSIONS: The use of BIG-IV since its licensure in 2003 treated approximately 93% of US patients with laboratory-confirmed infant botulism, and prevented >65 years in hospital stay and >$85 million in hospital charges from occurring. The greatest LOS reduction was achieved when BIG-IV was administered soon after hospital admission. Effective and appropriate use of BIG-IV in the US has continued in the postlicensure period.

Outcomes of ICU Patients With a Discharge Diagnosis of Critical Illness Polyneuromyopathy: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of a discharge diagnosis of critical illness polyneuromyopathy on health-related outcomes in a large cohort of patients requiring ICU admission. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort with propensity score-matched analysis. SETTING: Analysis of a large multihospital database. PATIENTS: Adult ICU patients without preexisting neuromuscular abnormalities and a discharge diagnosis of critical illness polyneuropathy and/or myopathy along with adult ICU propensity-matched control patients. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 3,567 ICU patients with a discharge diagnosis of critical illness polyneuropathy and/or myopathy, we matched 3,436 of these patients to 3,436 ICU patients who did not have a discharge diagnosis of critical illness polyneuropathy and/or myopathy. After propensity matching and adjusting for unbalanced covariates, we used conditional logistic regression and a repeated measures model to compare patient outcomes. Compared to patients without a discharge diagnosis of critical illness polyneuropathy and/or myopathy, patients with a discharge diagnosis of critical illness polyneuropathy and/or myopathy had fewer 28-day hospital-free days (6 [0.1] vs 7.4 [0.1] d; p < 0.0001), had fewer 28-day ventilator-free days (15.7 [0.2] vs 17.5 [0.2] d; p < 0.0001), had higher hospitalization charges (313,508 [4,853] vs 256,288 [4,470] dollars; p < 0.0001), and were less likely to be discharged home (15.3% vs 32.8%; p < 0.0001) but had lower in-hospital mortality (13.7% vs 18.3%; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In a propensity-matched analysis of a large national database, a discharge diagnosis of critical illness polyneuropathy and/or myopathy is strongly associated with deleterious outcomes including fewer hospital-free days, fewer ventilator-free days, higher hospital charges, and reduced discharge home but also an unexpectedly lower in-hospital mortality. This study demonstrates the clinical importance of a discharge diagnosis of critical illness polyneuropathy and/or myopathy and the need for effective preventive interventions.

The Burden of Hospital Readmissions among Pediatric Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the burden and predictors of hospital readmissions among pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease using the Nationwide Readmissions Database. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective cohort study using 2013 Nationwide Readmissions Database. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes were used to identify patients <18 years with diagnoses of ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). Demographic factors and details of hospitalizations were evaluated using survey procedures in SAS v 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate ORs and 95% CIs of readmission. RESULTS: Among 2733 hospitalizations (63% CD, 37% UC), 611 (22%) patients were readmitted within 90 days of the index hospitalization. Readmission resulted in weighted estimates of 11 440 excess days of hospitalization and total charges of over $107 million. For CD, male sex (aOR 1.36, 95% CI 1.03-1.81) and co-existing anxiety or depression (aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.06-3.40) were associated with increased readmissions, while patients who underwent surgery had decreased readmissions (aOR 0.40, 95% CI 0.24-0.65). In patients with UC, an index admission of >7 days was associated with increased readmissions (aOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.09-2.62). CONCLUSIONS: Readmission occurs frequently in children with inflammatory bowel disease and is associated with significant cost and resource burdens. Among patients with CD, psychiatric comorbidities such as anxiety and depression are apparent drivers of readmission.

Validation of an Administrative Definition of ICU Admission Using Revenue Center Codes.

OBJECTIVES: Describe the operating characteristics of a proposed set of revenue center codes to correctly identify ICU stays among hospitalized patients. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. We report the operating characteristics of all ICU-related revenue center codes for intensive and coronary care, excluding nursery, intermediate, and incremental care, to identify ICU stays. We use a classification and regression tree model to further refine identification of ICU stays using administrative data. The gold standard for classifying ICU admission was an electronic patient location tracking system. SETTING: The University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia, PA, United States. PATIENTS: All adult inpatient hospital admissions between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2015. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Among 127,680 hospital admissions, the proposed combination of revenue center codes had 94.6% sensitivity (95% CI, 94.3-94.9%) and 96.1% specificity (95% CI, 96.0-96.3%) for correctly identifying hospital admissions with an ICU stay. The classification and regression tree algorithm had 92.3% sensitivity (95% CI, 91.6-93.1%) and 97.4% specificity (95% CI, 97.2-97.6%), with an overall improved accuracy (χ = 398; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Use of the proposed combination of revenue center codes has excellent sensitivity and specificity for identifying true ICU admission. A classification and regression tree algorithm with additional administrative variables offers further improvements to accuracy.

Impact of the Updated Guidance for Palivizumab Prophylaxis against Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection: A Single Center Experience.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the differences in number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalizations and outcomes in infants 290/7-346/7 weeks' gestational age (wGA) the season before (season 1 [S1]; 2013-2014) and after (season 2 [S2]; 2014-2015) implementation of the 2014 American Academy of Pediatrics revised guidance for palivizumab prophylaxis. STUDY DESIGN: Children <12 months of age hospitalized with RSV infection were identified by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes and virology reports. Clinical, outcome data, palivizumab eligibility, and hospital charges were compared among infants 29-34 wGA in S1 vs S2. RESULTS: Of 1063 RSV hospitalizations in infants <12 months old, 7.1% (34/482) in S1 and 9.8% (57/581) in S2 occurred in 290/7-346/7 wGA infants. On the other hand, 29-34 wGA infants who were <6 months old constituted 3.5% (17/482) of RSV hospitalizations in S1 vs 7.1% (41/581) in S2 (P = .01). Among 290/7-346/7 wGA healthy infants who were <3 months old, oxygen administration (40.0% vs 78.9%; P = .05), pediatric intensive care unit admission (30.0% vs 68.4%; P = .04), mechanical ventilation (10.0% vs 52.6%; P = .04), duration of hospitalization (1.8 vs 8.8 days; P = .04), and hospital charges ($19 686 vs $30 662; P = .03) significantly increased in S2 vs S1. No differences in morbidity were observed in premature infants who were 3 to <6 and 6 to <12 months between seasons. Palivizumab eligibility decreased from 32.3% in S1 to 1.8% in S2 (P < .001). One infant died in each season. CONCLUSIONS: In the year following implementation of the 2014 palivizumab prophylaxis guidance, there was an increase in RSV hospitalizations and associated morbidity among 29-34 wGA infants of younger chronological age.

Not All Clefts Are Created Equal: Patterns of Hospital-Based Care Use among Children with Cleft Lip and Palate within 4 Years of Initial Surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study compares hospital-based care and associated charges among children with cleft lip, cleft palate, or both, and identifies subgroups generating the greatest cumulative hospital charges. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of cleft lip, cleft palate, or cleft lip and palate who underwent initial surgery from 2006 to 2008 in four U.S. states. Primary outcome was hospital-based care-emergency, outpatient, inpatient-within 4 years of surgery. Regression models compared outcomes and classification tree analysis identified patients at risk for being in the highest quartile of cumulative hospital charges. RESULTS: The authors identified 4571 children with cleft lip (18.2 percent), cleft palate (39.2 percent), or cleft lip and palate (42.6 percent). Medical comorbidity was frequent across all groups, with feeding difficulty (cleft lip, 2.4 percent; cleft palate, 13.4 percent; cleft lip and palate, 6.0 percent; p < 0.001) and developmental delay (cleft lip, 1.8 percent; cleft palate, 9.4 percent; cleft lip and palate, 3.6 percent; p < 0.001) being most common. Within 30 days of surgery, those with cleft palate were most likely to return to the hospital (p < 0.001). Hospital-based care per 100 children within 4 years was lowest among the cleft lip group, yet comparable among those with cleft palate and cleft lip and palate (p < 0.001). Cumulative 4-year charges, however, were highest among the cleft palate cohort (cleft lip, $56,966; cleft palate, $106,090; cleft lip and palate, $91,263; p < 0.001). Comorbidity, diagnosis (cleft lip versus cleft palate with or without cleft lip), and age at initial surgery were the most important factors associated with the highest quartile of cumulative hospital charges. CONCLUSIONS: Cleft lip and palate children experience a high rate of hospital-based care early in life, with degree of medical comorbidity being a significant burden. Understanding this relationship and associated needs may help deliver more efficient, patient-centered care.

Resource utilization and health care charges associated with the most frequent ED users.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Emergency department (ED) visits have continued to rise, and frequent ED users account for up to 8% of all ED visits. Reducing visits by frequent ED users may be one way to help reduce health care costs. We hypothesize that frequent users have unique ED utilization patterns resulting in differences in health care charges. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of electronic medical records from an urban community teaching hospital for the year 2012 comparing the top 108 frequent ED users (>12 visits/year) to a randomly selected group of 108 nonfrequent users (<4 visits/year). We compared demographic characteristics, distance lived from the hospital, medical and psychiatric history, substance abuse history, diagnostic testing, disposition, and amount charged to the patient for each visit. We compared data using χ(2) for proportions and t test or Wilcoxon rank sum based on normality of the data. RESULTS: The top 108 frequent ED users accounted for 1922 visits (2.9%), whereas the 108 nonfrequent users accounted for 150 visits (0.2%), in 2012 (all ED visits n = 65,398). Frequent users were more often unemployed, have public insurance, have mental health conditions, use tobacco, have a greater number of allergies to medications, and live closer to the hospital (P < .01). Disposition and median charge per visit did not differ between frequent and nonfrequent users ($1220 vs $1280). The total charges of the frequent ED users' visits were $10,465,216.07 versus $1,012,610.21 for nonfrequent users. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent users have unique medical and social characteristics; however, disposition and visit charges did not differ from nonfrequent users.

The impact of pediatric trauma in the Amish community.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of trauma in Amish children and to determine differences in treatment and outcome related to injury mechanism. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective review, data were collected on all Amish children with trauma requiring hospital admission. Demographic, interventional, and outcome data were collected. Categorical outcomes were compared by using chi-square, logistic regression, or Fisher exact test; continuous outcomes were compared with analysis of variance. RESULTS: A total of 135 trauma admissions were studied. There was a significant difference of proportion of injury by month (P < .01). The most common mechanisms of injury were falls (39%), buggy versus motor vehicle accidents (MVA; 16%), and animal injuries (14%). A total of 41% of patients required operative procedures, and 50% of subjects required intensive care. Animal injuries and buggy versus MVA were significantly associated with a requirement for surgery, increased length of stay, and increased severity (all P < .01). The overall mortality rate was 3%. There were significant associations between mechanism of injury and outcome scores (P < .05) and hospital charges (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The spectrum of traumatic injuries is unique among Amish children. These injuries contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality and impose a large monetary burden on the Amish community. Education may decrease the incidence of these events.

Cost of influenza hospitalization at a tertiary care children's hospital and its impact on the cost-benefit analysis of the recommendation for universal influenza immunization in children age 6 to 23 months.

OBJECTIVE: To calculate the costs of influenza hospitalization at a tertiary care children's hospital as the basis of a cost-benefit analysis of the new influenza vaccine recommendation for children age 6 to 23 months. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed the medical records of all patients admitted to Children's Memorial Hospital (CMH) in 2002 diagnosed with influenza. Total hospital costs were obtained from the Business Development Office. RESULTS: Thirty-five charts were analyzed. Both of the 2 patients requiring mechanical ventilation and 4 of 6 patients admitted to the intensive care unit had high-risk underlying medical conditions. Nine children were age 6 to 23 months; 4 of these 9 had no preexisting medical conditions. Had all 18 high-risk children over age 6 months been protected from influenza, approximately $350,000 in hospital charges could have been saved. CONCLUSIONS: Preventing the additional 4 hospitalizations in the otherwise low-risk children age 6 to 23 months for whom vaccine is currently recommended would have cost approximately $281,000 ($46/child) more than the hospital charges saved. When all children age 6 to 23 months are considered, influenza vaccination is less costly than other prophylactic measures. Addition of indirect costs, deaths, outpatient costs, and the cost of secondary cases would favor the cost:benefit ratio for influenza vaccination of all children age 6 to 23 months.

"Voluntary" user fees in Buenos Aires hospitals: innovation or imposition?

Voluntary user fees in hospitals in Buenos Aires, which operate outside official controls, have not featured in other studies of health care in Argentina. After providing a historical overview of different hospital funding sources, the authors focus on the activity of cooperadoras--the organizations responsible for levying voluntary fees. Using detailed data from two case-study hospitals and more general financial sources, they assess the importance of these fees, identifying sharp variations between different hospitals, serious problems of under-reporting, and potential abuses. The authors also examine the means by which fees are levied and the degree of coercion involved. Voluntary fees are not a particularly successful funding strategy: the income they generate is variable; they are almost entirely unregulated; and they sometimes conflict with other, more legitimate funding sources. Most importantly, their voluntaristic aspect is largely notional: most patients are heavily pressured to make payments. The main motivation for continuing with voluntary fees is to avoid the political fallout that would probably result from introduction of a formal user fees policy.