A dual-perspective analysis of the hospital and payer-borne burdens of selected in-hospital surgical complications in low anterior resection for colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The economic burden of surgical complications is borne in distinctly different ways by hospitals and payers. This study quantified the incidence and economic burden - from both the hospital and payer perspective - of selected major colorectal surgery complications in patients undergoing low anterior resection (LAR) for colorectal cancer. METHODS: Retrospective, observational study of patient undergoing LAR for colorectal cancer between 1/1/2010 and 7/1/2015. Analyses were replicated in two large healthcare administrative databases: Premier (hospital discharge and billing data; hospital perspective) and Optum (insurance claims data; payer perspective). Multivariable analyses evaluated the association between infection (surgical site or bloodstream), anastomotic leak, and bleeding complications and the following outcomes: hospital length of stay (LOS), non-home discharge, 90-day all-cause readmission, index admission costs to the hospital, index admission payer expenditures, and index admission +90-day post-discharge payer expenditures. RESULTS: 9,738 eligible LAR patients were included (7,479 in Premier; 2,259 in Optum). Overall, the incidences of infection, anastomotic leak, and bleeding complications were 6.4%, 10.6%, and 10.9%, respectively, during the index hospitalization. Each complication was associated with statistically significant longer LOS, higher risk of non-home discharge, higher risk of 90-day readmission, greater costs to the hospital, and higher payer expenditures. CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital infection, anastomotic leak, and bleeding were associated with a substantial economic burden, for both hospitals and payers, in patients undergoing LAR for colorectal cancer. This study provides information which may be used to quantify the potential economic value and impact of innovations in surgical care and delivery that reduce the incidence and burden of these complications.

Comparison of real-world clinical and economic outcomes between the ThermoCool® SF and ThermoCool® catheters in patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the real-world clinical and economic outcomes associated with the use of the ThermoCool® Surround Flow (SF) and ThermoCool® catheters in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. METHODS: Adults with AF who underwent catheter ablation between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2016, in a hospital outpatient setting were identified from the Premier Healthcare Database. Using a search strategy of hospital-charge descriptors, patients were classified into two mutually exclusive groups: ThermoCool® SF catheter and ThermoCool® catheter. A generalized estimating equation was used to compare index admission cost. Survey logistic regression was used to compare the incidence of inpatient readmission, direct-current cardioversion (DCCV), and repeat ablation. Multivariable analyses were adjusted for hospital clustering and demographic, procedural, hospital, and comorbidity characteristics. RESULTS: There were 1,014 and 463 patients in the ThermoCool® SF and ThermoCool® groups, respectively. The ThermoCool® SF group had significantly lower odds of all-cause (odds ratio [OR] 0.45; 95% CI 0.27-0.76) and cardiovascular-related readmissions (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.21-0.96), and DCCV (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.42-0.88) than the ThermoCool® group. In patients susceptible to fluid overload, the ThermoCool® SF group had significantly lower odds of 12-month all-cause (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.23-0.75), cardiovascular-related (OR 0.31; 95% CI 0.10-0.92), and AF-related readmissions (OR 0.18; 95% CI 0.04-0.80), and DCCV (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.31-0.87) than the ThermoCool® group. CONCLUSIONS: Using the ThermoCool® SF catheter for AF ablation was significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes compared with the ThermoCool® catheter.

A cost analysis of early biliary strictures following orthotopic liver transplantation in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: To date, the financial burden of biliary strictures (BS) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has remained largely unassessed. This study sought to approximate perioperative costs associated with early BS and delineate where in the hospital these costs are incurred. METHODS: The Premier Healthcare Database was queried for patients undergoing OLT between 2010 and 2016. Patients who did and did not develop early BS were compared with respect to perioperative costs and outcome variables. Multivariable regression models were used to estimate differences between groups. RESULTS: Patients who developed early BS had a longer length of stay (LOS) (35.3 days vs 17.8 days, P < 0.001) and were less likely to be discharged home (odds ratio = 0.45, P = 0.003). Development of early BS was associated with an incremental cost increase of $81 881 (45.8%, P < 0.001). The greatest relative cost increases were in radiology (+163.5%) and respiratory therapy (+157.1%), while the greatest absolute increase was in room and board (+$27 589). CONCLUSIONS: Early BS after OLT result in higher costs stemming from longer LOS and increased need for various diagnostic studies and therapies. In addition to incentivizing measures that may prevent early BS, hospitals should account for these factors when developing payment schemes for OLT with payors.