scholarly journals 91 Management and Outcomes of Appendicitis in The Pre-COVID-19, COVID-19 And Post-COVID-19 Periods

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Abeywickrema ◽  
C Patel ◽  
A K Ghumman ◽  
A Krishan ◽  
P Puventhiranathan ◽  
...  

Abstract Aim The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an upheaval of national surgical guidance on appendicitis, which has previously favoured surgical over conservative approaches. We analysed how these guidelines altered management and outcomes of appendicitis. Method A retrospective cohort study at Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham of all appendicitis admissions around and during the first COVID-19 peak was conducted, with analysis of electronic patient records using the acute surgical worklist. Results 48 admissions for appendicitis during the two-month period from 01/02/20 to 25/03/20 prior to the COVID-19 peak and 28 admissions in the two months during the peak itself from 30/03/20 to 24/05/20 were identified. Prior to the COVID-19 peak, a lower proportion of cases was managed conservatively (18.8%) compared to the latter (67.9%, p < 0.0001). This change also coincided with a switch from laparoscopic to open approaches in those managed surgically. We studied a further period post-COVID-19 peak from 01/06/20 to 26/07/20, where proportions of patients managed conservatively versus surgically did not significantly change following the COVID-19 peak, although surgical preference reverted from open to laparoscopic approaches. During the COVID-19 period, a reduced length of stay was seen in cases managed conservatively (1.65 days) compared to those managed surgically (4 days, p = 0.024). Differences in readmission rates were not statistically significant. Conclusions A reduction in numbers of appendicitis presentations as well as a switch to conservative approaches was seen during COVID-19. These findings furthermore support non-inferiority of conservative over open surgical approaches in most appendicitis cases at a time where laparoscopy was deemed unfeasible.

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 410-415
Author(s):  
Ashley N. Lee ◽  
Robert Johnson ◽  
Indu Lakhani ◽  
Laura E. Happe

In 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reversed their coverage policy that limited bariatric operations to Centers of Excellence (COE). Data from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services may not be generalizable to younger, healthier populations; additional data are needed to inform coverage policies for other plans. This retrospective cohort study used the 2010 to 2011 administrative claims data from the TRICARE military healthcare program to evaluate readmission rates, readmission length of stay, and postoperative healthcare costs among patients who had bariatric surgery at a COE versus non-designated centers. Outcomes were reported at 30, 60, and 90 days, and compared using logistic and linear regression models while controlling for age, gender, and military status. A total of 3027 patients underwent bariatric operations (mean age 44.16, 84.11% female). At 30 days, there were no significant differences between patients in COEs (n = 2413) and non-designated centers (n = 614), in readmission rates (4.77%, 4.40%, P = 0.70), mean length of stay (5.5 days, 6.7 days, P = 0.41), or mean postoperative healthcare costs ($754, $962, P = 0.398). There were no significant differences in any outcomes at 60 or 90 days. Combined with concerns related to COE patient access barriers, these findings strengthen the evidence that reject the requirement for bariatric surgeries to be performed at COEs.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e0135066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffie H. A. Brouns ◽  
Patricia M. Stassen ◽  
Suze L. E. Lambooij ◽  
Jeanne Dieleman ◽  
Irene T. P. Vanderfeesten ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumantra Monty Ghosh ◽  
Khokan Sikdar ◽  
Adetola Koleade ◽  
Peter Farris ◽  
Jordan Ross ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Individuals experiencing homelessness (IEH) tend to have increased length of stay (LOS) in acute care settings, which negatively impacts health care costs and resource utilization. It is unclear however, what specific factors account for this increased LOS. This study attempts to define which diagnoses most impact LOS for IEH and if there are differences based on their demographics. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted looking at ICD-10 diagnosis codes and LOS for patients identified as IEH seen in Emergency Departments (ED) and also for those admitted to. Data were stratified based on diagnosis, gender and age. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine which ICD-10 diagnoses were significantly associated with increased ED and inpatient LOS for IEH compared to housed individuals.Results: Homelessness admissions were associated with increased LOS regardless of gender or age group. The absolute mean difference of LOS between IEH and housed individuals was 1.62 hours [95% CI 1.49 – 1.75] in the ED and 3.02 days [95% CI 2.42-3.62] for inpatients. Males age 18-24 years spent on average 7.12 more days in hospital, and females aged 25-34 spent 7.32 more days in hospital compared to their housed counterparts. Thirty-one diagnoses were associated with increased LOS in EDs for IEH compared to their housed counterparts; maternity concerns and coronary artery disease were associated with significantly increased inpatient LOS. Conclusion: Homelessness significantly increases the LOS of individuals within both ED and inpatient settings. We have identified numerous diagnoses that are associated with increased LOS in IE; these inform the prioritization and development of targeted interventions to improve the health of IEH.


2021 ◽  

Background: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding and overuse are global healthcare problems. Despite that substantial pieces of literature have explored quality parameters to monitor the patients’ safety and quality of care in the ED, to the best of our knowledge, no reasonable patient-to-ED staff ratios were established. Objectives: This study aimed to find the association between unexpected emergency department cardiac arrest (EDCA) and the patient-to-ED staff ratio. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a medical center in Taiwan. Non-trauma patients (age > 18) who visited the ED from January 1, 2016 to November 30, 2018 were included. The total number of patients in ED, number of patients waiting for boarding, length of stay over 48 hours, and physician/nurse number in ED were collected and analyzed. The primary outcome was the association of each parameter with the incidence of EDCA. Results: A total of 508 patients were included. The total number of patients in ED ( > 361, RR: 1.54; 95% CI {1.239-1.917}), ED occupancy rate (> 280, RR: 1.54; 95% CI {1.245-1.898}), ED bed occupancy rate (> 184, RR: 1.63; 95% CI {1.308-2.034}), number of patients waiting for boarding (> 134, RR: 1.45; 95% CI {1.164-1.805}), number of patients in ED with length of stay over 48 hours (> 36, RR: 1.27; 95% CI {1.029-1.558}) and patient-to-nurse ratio (> 8.5, adjusted RR: 1.33; 95% CI {1.054-1.672}) had significant associations with higher incidence of EDCA. However, the patient-to-physician ratio was not associated with EDCA incidence. Discussions: Regarding loading parameters, the patient-to-nurse ratio is more representative than the patient-to-physician ratio as regards association with higher EDCA incidence. Conclusions: A higher patient-to-nurse ratio (> 8.5) was associated with an increment in the incidence of EDCA. Our findings provide a basis for setting different thresholds for different ED settings to adjust ED staff and develop individually tailored approaches corresponding to the level of ED overcrowding.


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