BACKGROUND: There is uncertainty regarding the frequency of adverse events while on a surgical waiting list. We assess the relationship between the duration of wait for cholecystectomy and the risk of emergency admission. METHODS: We analyzed time to emergency admission in a group of 761 patients who underwent cholecystectomy after being seen in clinic for biliary colic and placed on waiting lists at 2 acute care centres in Ontario, from 1997 to 2000. RESULTS: Emergency admissions due to worsening symptoms occurred in 51 patients (6.7%) waiting for elective cholecystectomy. The weekly rate of emergency admission was low during the first 19 weeks on the list, but increased almost by a factor of 3 after 20 weeks (rate ratio 2.7; 95% confidence interval 2.0-3.7). Relative to the first 4 weeks on the list, the rate was 1.6 times higher after 20 weeks, 2 times higher after 28 weeks and 7 times higher after 40 weeks. INTERPRETATION: The probability that a patient on a waiting list will be admitted for emergency cholecystectomy consistently increases with the duration of wait, particularly after 20 weeks.
BACKGROUND: There is uncertainty regarding the frequency of adverse events while on a surgical waiting list. We assess the relationship between the duration of wait for cholecystectomy and the risk of emergency admission. METHODS: We analyzed time to emergency admission in a group of 761 patients who underwent cholecystectomy after being seen in clinic for biliary colic and placed on waiting lists at 2 acute care centres in Ontario, from 1997 to 2000. RESULTS: Emergency admissions due to worsening symptoms occurred in 51 patients (6.7%) waiting for elective cholecystectomy. The weekly rate of emergency admission was low during the first 19 weeks on the list, but increased almost by a factor of 3 after 20 weeks (rate ratio 2.7; 95% confidence interval 2.0-3.7). Relative to the first 4 weeks on the list, the rate was 1.6 times higher after 20 weeks, 2 times higher after 28 weeks and 7 times higher after 40 weeks. INTERPRETATION: The probability that a patient on a waiting list will be admitted for emergency cholecystectomy consistently increases with the duration of wait, particularly after 20 weeks.
Authors: R G Turnbull; D C Taylor; Y N Hsiang; A J Salvian; S Nanji; G O'Hanley; D L Doyle; P D Fry Journal: Can J Surg Date: 2000-04 Impact factor: 2.089
Authors: S Morad Hameed; Frederick D Brenneman; Chad G Ball; Joe Pagliarello; Tarek Razek; Neil Parry; Sandy Widder; Sam Minor; Andrzej Buczkowski; Cailan Macpherson; Amanda Johner; Dan Jenkin; Leanne Wood; Karen McLoughlin; Ian Anderson; Doug Davey; Brent Zabolotny; Roger Saadia; John Bracken; Avery Nathens; Najma Ahmed; Ormond Panton; Garth L Warnock Journal: Can J Surg Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 2.089
Authors: Taylor P Williams; Francesca M Dimou; Deepak Adhikari; Thomas D Kimbrough; Taylor S Riall Journal: J Surg Res Date: 2015-04-16 Impact factor: 2.192