ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the evolution of hospital stays and utilization of outpatient facilities for the treatment of five congenital malformations (choanal atresia, isolated cleft lip, isolated cleft palate, branchial cyst-sinus and thyroglossal duct cyst-sinus). METHOD: A retrospective review of MED-ECHO data for the province of Quebec from 1983 to 1995 was conducted. RESULTS: For three of the five studied malformations (cleft palate, branchial cyst-sinus, and thyroglossal duct cyst-sinus), there has been a trend toward reduced hospital stay and increased utilization of out-patient facilities. CONCLUSION: There has been a general tendency to reduce hospital stays even in procedures with potential airway and bleeding complications.
