Hospitalization costs and their determining factors among patients undergoing kidney transplantation: a cross-sectional descriptive study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Cost evaluation is a key tool in monitoring expenditure for budget management. It increases the efficiency of possible changes through identifying potential savings and estimating the resources required to make such changes. However, there is a lack of knowledge of the total cost of hospitalization up to the clinical outcome, regarding patients admitted for kidney transplantation. Likewise, there is a lack of data on the factors that influence the amounts spent by hospital institutions and healthcare systems. OBJECTIVES: To describe the costs and determining factors relating to hospitalization of patients undergoing kidney transplantation. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional descriptive study with a quantitative approach based on secondary data from 81 patients who were admitted for kidney transplantation at a leading transplantation center in southern Brazil. METHODS: The direct costs of healthcare for patients who underwent kidney transplantation were the dependent variable, and included personnel, expenses, third-party services, materials and medicines. The factors that interfered in the cost of the procedure were indirect variables. The items that made up these variables were gathered from the records of the internal transplantation committee and from the electronic medical records. The billing sector provided information on the direct costs per patient. RESULTS: The estimated total cost of patients' hospitalization was R$ 1,257,639.11 (US$ 571,010.44). Out of this amount, R$ 1,237,338.31 (US$ 561,793.20) was paid by the Brazilian National Health System and R$ 20,300.80 (US$ 9,217.24) by the transplantation center's own resources. The highest costs related to the length of hospital stay and clinical complications such as sepsis and pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: The costs of hospitalization for kidney transplantation relate to the length of hospital stay and clinical complications.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation: evaluation of its economic impact on the costs of cardiac surgery

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to calculate the direct costs of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in a high-complexity cardiovascular hospital. Methods: We performed a cost analysis with a pairwise-matched design. Twenty-two patients with POAF and 22 patients without this complication were included. Pair-matching was performed (1:1) based on the following criteria: identical type of surgery, similar EuroSCORE II values, and absence of any other postoperative complication. Results: The total hospital cost was significantly higher in the POAF group than in the non-POAF group (US$ 10,880 [± 2,688] vs. US$ 8,856 [± 1,782], respectively, for each patient; P=0.005). This difference was attributable to postoperative costs (US$ 3,103 [± 1,552] vs. US$ 1,238 [± 429]; P=0.0001) for patients with or without POAF, respectively. The median postoperative lengths of stay were 9 (range 5-17) and 5 (3-9) days for patients with and without POAF (P=0.032), respectively. Preoperatively, no differences were found in the EuroSCORE II values (median 1.7 vs. 1.6, respectively; P=0.91) or direct costs (US$ 1,127 vs. US$ 1,063, respectively; P=0.56) between POAF and non-POAF groups. Conclusion: POAF generates a high economic burden in the overall costs of cardiac surgery, and our results reveal the differential contribution of each of the evaluated factors. This information, which was previously unavailable in this setting, is essential for the development of more effective prevention strategies.

Impacto das complicações pós-transplante simultâneo pâncreas-rim sobre o custo da internação hospitalar / Simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation and the impact of postoperative complications on hospitalization cost

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar o impacto financeiro das complicações pós-operatórias no transplante simultâneo pâncreas-rim durante a internação hospitalar. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo dos dados da internação hospitalar dos pacientes submetidos consecutivamente ao transplante simultâneo pâncreas-rim no período de janeiro de 2008 a dezembro de 2014 no Hospital do Rim/Fundação Oswaldo Ramos. As principais variáveis estudadas foram a reoperação, pancreatectomia do enxerto, óbito, complicações pós-operatórias (cirúrgicas, infecciosas, clínicas e imunológicas) e os dados financeiros da internação para o transplante. Resultados: a amostra foi composta de 179 pacientes transplantados. As características dos doadores e receptores foram semelhantes nos pacientes com e sem complicações. Na análise dos dados, 58,7% dos pacientes apresentaram alguma complicação pós-operatória, 21,8% necessitaram de reoperação, 12,3%, de pancreatectomia do enxerto e 8,4% evoluíram para o óbito. A necessidade de reoperação ou pancreatectomia do enxerto aumentou o custo da internação em 53,3% e 78,57%, respectivamente. A presença de complicação pós-operatória aumentou significativamente o custo. Entretanto, a presença de óbito, hérnia interna, infarto agudo do miocárdio, acidente vascular cerebral e disfunção do enxerto pancreático não apresentaram significância estatística no custo, cuja média foi de US$ 18,516.02. Conclusão: complicações pós-operatórias, reoperação e pancreatectomia do enxerto aumentaram significativamente o custo médio da internação hospitalar do SPK, assim como as complicações cirúrgicas, infecciosas, clínicas e imunológicas. No entanto, o óbito durante a internação, a hérnia interna, o infarto agudo do miocárdio, o acidente vascular cerebral e a disfunção do enxerto pancreático não interferiram estatisticamente neste custo.

ABSTRACT Objective: considering simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation cases, to evaluate the financial impact of postoperative complications on hospitalization cost. Methods: a retrospective study of hospitalization data from patients consecutively submitted to simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT), from January 2008 to December 2014, at Kidney Hospital/Oswaldo Ramos Foundation (Sao Paulo, Brazil). The main studied variables were reoperation, graft pancreatectomy, death, postoperative complications (surgical, infectious, clinical, and immunological ones), and hospitalization financial data for transplantation. Results: the sample was composed of 179 transplanted patients. The characteristics of donors and recipients were similar in patients with and without complications. In data analysis, 58.7% of the patients presented some postoperative complication, 21.8% required reoperation, 12.3% demanded graft pancreatectomy, and 8.4% died. The need for reoperation or graft pancreatectomy increased hospitalization cost by 53.3% and 78.57%, respectively. The presence of postoperative complications significantly increased hospitalization cost. However, the presence of death, internal hernia, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and pancreatic graft dysfunction did not present statistical significance in hospitalization cost (in average US$ 18,516.02). Conclusion: considering patients who underwent SPKT, postoperative complications, reoperation, and graft pancreatectomy, as well as surgical, infectious, clinical, and immunological complications, significantly increased the mean cost of hospitalization. However, death, internal hernia, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and pancreatic graft dysfunction did not statistically interfere in hospitalization cost.

Abortos seguros e inseguros: Costos monetarios totales y costos para el sistema de salud de la Argentina en 2018 / Safe and unsafe abortions: Total monetary costs and health care system costs in Argentina in 2018

RESUMEN Durante el primer semestre de 2018, en Argentina se inició un profundo debate sobre la legalización de la práctica del aborto, que puso en evidencia la falta de estudios científicos que aborden la dimensión económica del tema en la Argentina. Este trabajo busca avanzar en la cuantificación de los costos del aborto bajo dos escenarios: el del actual contexto de ilegalidad y los costos potenciales si se aplicaran los protocolos internacionales recomendados, en un contexto de legalización de la práctica. Los resultados de la comparación de los costos monetarios totales en 2018 (privados o de bolsillo y para el sistema de salud) del escenario actual de ilegalidad y práctica insegura del aborto, frente a escenarios potenciales de prácticas seguras, muestran que se podría ahorrar una gran cantidad de recursos si se implementaran los protocolos recomendados. Dichos resultandos, además, se muestran robustos al realizar una serie de ejercicios de sensibilidad sobre los principales supuestos incluidos en las comparaciones.

ABSTRACT During the first semester of 2018, a profound debate on the legalization of the practice of abortion was initiated in Argentina, which exposed the lack of scientific studies addressing the economic dimension of abortion in this country. This work seeks to move forward in the quantification of the costs of abortion under two scenarios: the current context of illegality and the potential costs if the recommended international protocols were applied in a context of legalization of the practice. The results of the comparison between, on the one hand, the total monetary costs in 2018 (private or out-of-pocket expenditure and costs for the health care system) of the current scenario of illegality and unsafe practice of abortion and, on the other hand, potential scenarios of safe practices, shows that a large amount of resources could be saved if the recommended protocols were implemented. These results proved to be robust after carrying out a series of sensitivity exercises on the main assumptions included in the comparisons.

Análisis de costo-utilidad en Colombia del tratamiento integral del carcinoma de seno con reconstrucción inmediata frente a la reconstrucción diferida / Immediate versus delayed breast reconstruction in breast cancer patients in Colombia: A costutility analysis

Resumen Introducción. La reconstrucción mamaria inmediata o diferida hace parte del tratamiento del cáncer de mama. Cada país y sistema de salud costea y evalúa estos procedimientos de forma diferente. Es importante determinar cuál estrategia resulta de mayor costo-utilidad en Colombia. Objetivo. Evaluar la costo-utilidad del tratamiento del cáncer de mama con reconstrucción inmediata, comparada con la reconstrucción diferida. Materiales y métodos. Se utilizó un modelo de árbol de decisiones con un plazo previsto de un año desde la perspectiva del tercer pagador. Los datos de costos se tomaron del manual tarifario del Instituto de Seguros Sociales de 2001 más un ajuste del 30 % según la metodología del Instituto de Evaluación Tecnológica en Salud y el modelo de facturación del Centro Javeriano de Oncología del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio. Las probabilidades de transición y las utilidades se obtuvieron de médicos especialistas, de las pacientes y de la literatura médica. Se hicieron los análisis univariado y probabilístico de sensibilidad. Resultados. Los costos esperados per cápita fueron de COP$ 26'710.605 (USD$ 11.165) para la reconstrucción inmediata y de COP$ 6'459.557 (USD$ 11.060) para la diferida. La reconstrucción inmediata generó un costo incremental de COP$ 251.049 (USD$ 105), así como 0,75 años de vida ajustados por calidad (AVAC), en tanto que la diferida generó 0,63 AVAC, con una relación de costoutilidad incremental de COP $2'154.675 por AVAC (USD$ 901). Conclusiones. El costo por AVAC no superó el umbral de aceptabilidad del producto interno bruto (PIB) per cápita. Los costos durante el primer año resultaron similares y ambas técnicas son favorables para el sistema de salud colombiano, pero la utilidad de la reconstrucción inmediata reportada por los pacientes y en la literatura médica, es mayor.

Abstract Introduction. Breast reconstruction, either immediate or delayed, is part of the treatment of breast cancer. Each country and health system pays for and evaluates these procedures in different ways. Thus, it is important to determine which strategy is most cost-effective in Colombia. Objective: To evaluate the cost-utility of breast cancer treatment with immediate reconstruction compared with delayed reconstruction. Materials and methods: We used a decision tree model and a one-year time horizon from the perspective of the third-party payer; the cost data were taken from the Colombian Instituto de Seguros Sociales 2001 rate manual plus a 30% adjustment according to the methodology of the Instituto de Evaluación Tecnológica en Salud, IETS, and the billing model of the Centro Javeriano de Oncología at the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio. The transition probabilities and profits were obtained from medical specialists, patients, and the medical literature. We also conducted univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Results: The expected costs per capita were COP$ 26,710,605 (USD$ 11,165) for the immediate reconstruction and COP$ 26,459,557 (USD$ 11,060) for the deferred reconstruction. Immediate reconstruction generated an incremental cost of COP$ 251,049 (USD$ 105) and 0.75 quality-adjusted life years (QALY), while deferred reconstruction generated 0.63 QALYs, with an incremental cost-utility ratio of COP$ 2,154,675 per QALY (USD$ 901). Conclusions: The cost per QALY did not exceed the acceptability threshold of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. The costs for the first year were similar. Both techniques are favorable for the Colombian health system, but the utility reported by patients and the literature is greater with the immediate reconstruction.

Pós-operatório imediato de cirurgia bariátrica em unidade intensiva versus unidade de internação. Estudo retrospectivo com 828 pacientes / Immediate postoperative of bariatric surgery in the intensive care unit versus an inpatient unit. A retrospective study with 828 patients

RESUMO Objetivo: Comparar a incidência de complicações e a duração da hospitalização de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica internados na unidade de terapia intensiva ou de internação pós-cirúrgica. Métodos: Estudo observacional, retrospectivo, que incluiu 828 pacientes admitidos entre janeiro de 2010 e fevereiro de 2015 em pós-operatório imediato de cirurgia bariátrica em um hospital. Os dados foram coletados em prontuários eletrônicos. As variáveis contínuas foram comparadas utilizando-se o teste de Mann-Whitney e as categóricas, o qui quadrado. Resultados: Os pacientes dos dois grupos possuíam características demográficas semelhantes, sem diferença significativa dos dados antropométricos e comorbidades. Comparando-se as complicações entre os dois grupos, não houve diferença significativa. No entanto, o grupo admitido na unidade de terapia intensiva teve maior tempo de internação (mediana de 3 dias versus 2 dias; p < 0,05) e custo hospitalar 8% maior. Conclusão: O presente estudo não encontrou nenhum benefício na internação rotineira de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica em unidade de terapia intensiva. Esta prática aumentou o tempo de internação e o custo hospitalar, desperdiçando recursos. É necessária a criação de critérios objetivos para identificar pacientes que necessitem de internação em unidade de terapia intensiva após cirurgia bariátrica.

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the incidence of complications and the duration of hospitalization of patients undergoing bariatric surgery admitted to the intensive care unit or a post-surgical hospitalization unit. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 828 patients admitted between January 2010 and February 2015 during the immediate postoperative period of bariatric surgery in a hospital. Data were collected via electronic medical records. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare continuous variables, and the chi-square was used to compare categorical variables. Results: Patients in both groups had similar demographic characteristics, with no significant differences in anthropometric data and comorbidities. There was no significant difference in the comparison of complications between the two groups. However, the group admitted to the intensive care unit had longer hospitalization times (median of 3 days versus 2 days, p < 0.05), and hospital costs were 8% higher. Conclusion: The present study found no benefit in the routine admittance of patients to the intensive care unit after undergoing bariatric surgery. This practice increased hospitalization time and hospital costs, which wasted resources. It is necessary to create objective criteria to identify patients requiring intensive care unit admission after bariatric surgery.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery cost coverage by the brazilian unified health system (SUS)

Abstract Introduction: Cost management has been identified as an essential tool for the general control and evaluation of health organizations. Objectives: To identify the coverage percentage of transferred funds from the Unified Health System for coronary artery bypass grafts in a philanthropic hospital having a consolidated costing system in the municipality of São Paulo. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional research with information provided from a database composed of 1913 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft from March 13 to September 30, 2012, including isolated elective coronary artery bypass graft with the use of extracorporeal circulation. It excluded 551 (28.8%) patients, among them 76 (4.0%) deaths and 8 hospitalized patients, since the cost was compared according to the length of hospital stay. Therefore, the sample consisted of 1362 patients. Results: The average total cost per patient was $7,992.55. The average fund transfer by the Unified Health System was $3,450.73 (48.66%), resulting in a deficit of $4,541.82 (51.34%). Conclusion: The Unified Health System transfers covered 48.66% of the average total cost of hospitalization. Although the amount transferred increased with increasing costs, it was not proportional to the total cost, resulting in a percentage difference in revenue that was increasingly negative for each increase in cost and hospital stay. Those hospitalized for longer than seven days presented higher costs, older age, higher percentage of diabetics and chronic kidney disease patients and more postoperative complications.

Systematic review: the burden of post-operative complications following colectomy for ulcerative colitis

Background: Ulcerative colitis [UC] patients failing medical management require colectomy

Methods: Literature search in MEDLINE , CINAHL and Embase, targeting studies reporting the outcomes of colorectal procedures [from 2002 to 2016 with total and subtotal colectomy postoperative complications in adults with ulcerative colitis as an endpoint. Texts and authoritative Web sites were also reviewed then identification of papers according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and data extraction were performed by two independent researchers

Results: Following data extraction and synthesis, we identified 24 articles for review. Reporting outcomes from procedures conducted from 2002-2016. Most frequent short-term complications: infectious complications and ileus [mean incidence 21% and 19%], while most frequent long-term complications: pouchitis, fecal incontinence and small bowel obstruction [mean incidence 31%, 22% and 18%]. Post-operative early complications [

Conclusion: Although Colectomy remains an appropriate therapeutic strategy for specific groups of patients- it is not the optimal cure for UC. Clinicians need to fully understand the various postoperative complications and comorbidities that are highly prevalent with over a third of patients expected to experience long-term or late arising post-operative complications. Thus, while surgical procedures are recommended as an appropriate therapeutic strategy for a specific group of patients, the post-operative complications associated with these surgical procedures should not be underestimated

Cardiac Surgery Costs According to the Preoperative Risk in the Brazilian Public Health System / Custos das Cirurgias Cardíacas Segundo o Risco Pré-Operatório no Sistema Público de Saúde Brasileiro

AbstractBackground:Heart surgery has developed with increasing patient complexity.Objective:To assess the use of resources and real costs stratified by risk factors of patients submitted to surgical cardiac procedures and to compare them with the values reimbursed by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS).Method:All cardiac surgery procedures performed between January and July 2013 in a tertiary referral center were analyzed. Demographic and clinical data allowed the calculation of the value reimbursed by the Brazilian SUS. Patients were stratified as low, intermediate and high-risk categories according to the EuroSCORE. Clinical outcomes, use of resources and costs (real costs versus SUS) were compared between established risk groups.Results:Postoperative mortality rates of low, intermediate and high-risk EuroSCORE risk strata showed a significant linear positive correlation (EuroSCORE: 3.8%, 10%, and 25%; p < 0.0001), as well as occurrence of any postoperative complication EuroSCORE: 13.7%, 20.7%, and 30.8%, respectively; p = 0.006). Accordingly, length-of-stay increased from 20.9 days to 24.8 and 29.2 days (p < 0.001). The real cost was parallel to increased resource use according to EuroSCORE risk strata (R$ 27.116,00 ± R$ 13.928,00 versus R$ 34.854,00 ± R$ 27.814,00 versus R$ 43.234,00 ± R$ 26.009,00, respectively; p < 0.001). SUS reimbursement also increased (R$ 14.306,00 ± R$ 4.571,00 versus R$ 16.217,00 ± R$ 7.298,00 versus R$ 19.548,00 ± R$935,00; p < 0.001). However, as the EuroSCORE increased, there was significant difference (p < 0.0001) between the real cost increasing slope and the SUS reimbursement elevation per EuroSCORE risk strata.Conclusion:Higher EuroSCORE was related to higher postoperative mortality, complications, length of stay, and costs. Although SUS reimbursement increased according to risk, it was not proportional to real costs.

ResumoFundamentos:A cirurgia cardíaca evoluiu progressivamente com o aumento da complexidade dos pacientes.Objetivo:Avaliar a utilização de recursos e o custo real segundo o grupo de risco dos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca, e compará-los com o valor ressarcido pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS).Método:Foram analisadas todas as cirurgias cardíacas realizadas entre janeiro e julho de 2013 em um centro terciário. Dados demográficos e clínicos permitiram o cálculo do valor ressarcido pelo SUS. Os pacientes foram estratificados em baixo, médio e alto risco pelo EuroSCORE. Os resultados clínicos, o uso de recursos e os custos (real versus SUS) foram comparados entre os grupos de risco estabelecidos.Resultados:Taxas de mortalidade pós-operatória de baixo, intermediário e alto risco apresentaram correlação linear positiva (EuroSCORE: 3,8%, 10% e 25%, respectivamente; p < 0,0001), assim como a ocorrência de alguma complicação pós-operatória (EuroSCORE: 13,7%, 20,7% e 30,8%, respectivamente; p = 0,006). O tempo de internação aumentou de 20,9 para 24,8 e 29,2 dias, respectivamente (p < 0,001). O custo real foi paralelo ao aumento da utilização de recursos, segundo o EuroSCORE (R$ 27.116,00 ± R$13.928,00 versus R$ 34.854,00 ± R$ 27.814,00 versus R$ 43.234,00 ± R$ 26.009,00, respectivamente; p < 0,001). O ressarcimento do SUS também aumentou (R$ 14.306,00 ± R$ 4.571,00 versus R$ 16.217,00 ± R$ 7.298,00 versus R$ 19.548,00 ± R$ 935,00; p < 0,001). Mesmo com aumento do EuroSCORE, houve diferença (p < 0,0001) progressiva entre o incremento do custo real e o ressarcimento do SUS.Conclusão:O aumento do EuroSCORE esteve relacionado a maiores morbimortalidade, tempo de internação e custos no pós-operatório. Embora o ressarcimento do SUS também aumente conforme o risco, ele não é proporcional ao custo real.

Negligence in sterilisation: the changing legal regime.

Negligence in a sterilisation operation is a crucial issue in a country like India where sterilisation operations form an important part of government programmes. This article seeks to highlight the medico-legal dilemmas that surround this issue, and the legal pronouncements on it. The article also deals with a recent policy initiative--the Family Planning Insurance Scheme--that has been formulated in this regard, its legal implications, and its impact on the medical fraternity as well as on society as a whole.

Custos comparativos entre a revascularização miocárdica com e sem circulação extracorpórea / Comparative costs between myocardial revascularization with or without extracorporeal circulation

FUNDAMENTO: Técnicas cirúrgicas de revascularização miocárdica sem o uso de circulação extracorpórea (CEC) projetaram esperanças de resultados operatórios com menor dano sistêmico, menor ocorrência de complicações clínicas e menor tempo de internação hospitalar, gerando expectativas de menor custo hospitalar. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o custo hospitalar em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica com e sem o uso de CEC, e em portadores de doença multiarterial coronariana estável com função ventricular preservada. MÉTODOS: Os custos hospitalares foram baseados na remuneração governamental vigente. Acrescentaram-se aos custos uso de órteses e próteses, complicações e intercorrências clínicas. Consideraram-se o tempo e os custos de permanência na UTI e de internação hospitalar. RESULTADOS: Entre janeiro de 2002 e agosto de 2006, foram randomizados 131 pacientes para cirurgia com CEC (CCEC) e 128 pacientes sem CEC (SCEC). As características basais foram semelhantes para os dois grupos. Os custos das intercorrências cirúrgicas foram significativamente menores (p < 0,001) para pacientes do grupo SCEC comparados ao grupo CCEC (606,00 ± 525,00 vs. 945,90 ± 440,00), bem como os custos na UTI: 432,20 ± 391,70 vs. 717,70 ± 257,70, respectivamente. Os tempos de permanência na sala cirúrgica foram (4,9 ± 1,1 h vs. 3,9 ± 1,0 h), (p < 0,001) na UTI (48,2 ± 17,2 h vs. 29,2 ± 26,1h) (p < 0,001), com tempo de entubação (9,2 ± 4,5 h vs. 6,4 ± 5,1h) (p < 0,001) para pacientes do grupo com e sem CEC, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados permitem concluir que a cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica, sem circulação extracorpórea, proporciona diminuição de custos operacionais e de tempo de permanência em cada setor relacionado ao tratamento cirúrgico.

BACKGROUND: Surgical techniques of myocardial revascularization without the use of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) have raised hopes of attaining operative results with less systemic damage, lower occurrence of clinical complications and shorter hospital stay duration, generating expectations of lower hospital costs. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hospital costs in patients submitted to myocardial revascularization with and without ECC and in those with stable multiarterial coronary disease with preserved ventricular function. METHODS: The hospital costs were based on the existing governmental reimbursement. The costs included that of ortheses and prostheses and clinical complications. The time and costs of ICU stay and hospital stay duration were considered. RESULTS: Between January 2002 and August 2006, 131 patients were randomized to surgery with ECC (SECC), whereas 128 were randomized to surgery without ECC (WECC). The basal characteristics were similar for both groups. The costs of surgical complications were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in patients from the WECC when compared to the SECC group (606.00 ± 525.00 vs. 945.90 ± 440.00), as well as ICU costs: 432.20 ± 391.70 vs. 717.70 ± 257.70, respectively. The duration of the operating room stay were 4.9 ± 1.1 h vs. 3.9 ± 1.0 h, p < 0.001; at the ICU it was 48.2 ± 17.2 h vs. 29.2 ± 26.1h) (p < 0.001), with intubation time of 9.2 ± 4.5 h vs. 6.4 ± 5.1h, p < 0.001 for patients from the group with and without ECC, respectively. CONCLUSION: The present study allowed us to conclude that the myocardial revascularization surgery without extracorporeal circulation results in the decrease of operational costs and duration of the stay in each section related to the surgical treatment.

Lord's procedure: a curative outpatient operation for primary hydrocele.

Surgical procedures for hydrocele carry a significant morbidity rate from haematoma formation. Lord's procedures (n = 26) were performed for primary hydrocele as outpatient operation. Peroperative drain was put in one case (3.85%). Postoperative complications were negligible except scrotal oedema in 3 cases (11.53%), which required no specific treatment. No recurrence was noted till one year of follow-up. It is concluded that Lord's procedure is simple, effective, safe and economical technique.