OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the costs of treatment and use of hospital resources when comparing routine abdominal CT and selective imaging practice based on clinical assessment in patients with acute abdomen. METHODS: Altogether 300 patients with acute abdominal pain were randomised to computed tomography (CT, n = 150) or selective imaging practice (SIP, n = 150) groups. Final analysis included 254 patients, 143 in the CT and 111 in the SIP group. All CT group patients underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal CT within 24 h of admission. In the SIP group, imaging was individually tailored based on clinical assessment. The numbers of various examinations and procedures as well as costs of treatment arising from acute abdomen were calculated for each patient. Length of hospital stay was registered. RESULTS: Total treatment cost per patient was 1,202 euros (<euro>) higher in the CT group compared to the SIP group (P = 0.002). The length of hospital stay was 1.2 days longer in the CT group (3.7 vs. 2.5 days, P = 0.010). Routine CT had no impact on ED discharge times. Imaging costs accounted for approximately 10 % of total costs. CONCLUSION:Routine abdominal CT results in higher treatment costs compared to selective use of imaging in patients with acute abdomen. KEY POINTS: • CT is widely used almost routinely in the diagnostics of acute abdomen. • Patients with acute abdomen were randomised to routine CT or selective imaging. • The treatment costs were significantly higher in the routine CT group. • Length of hospital stay was longer in the CT group. • Selective use of imaging may help control continuous increases of treatment costs.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the costs of treatment and use of hospital resources when comparing routine abdominal CT and selective imaging practice based on clinical assessment in patients with acute abdomen. METHODS: Altogether 300 patients with acute abdominal pain were randomised to computed tomography (CT, n = 150) or selective imaging practice (SIP, n = 150) groups. Final analysis included 254 patients, 143 in the CT and 111 in the SIP group. All CT group patients underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal CT within 24 h of admission. In the SIP group, imaging was individually tailored based on clinical assessment. The numbers of various examinations and procedures as well as costs of treatment arising from acute abdomen were calculated for each patient. Length of hospital stay was registered. RESULTS: Total treatment cost per patient was 1,202 euros (<euro>) higher in the CT group compared to the SIP group (P = 0.002). The length of hospital stay was 1.2 days longer in the CT group (3.7 vs. 2.5 days, P = 0.010). Routine CT had no impact on ED discharge times. Imaging costs accounted for approximately 10 % of total costs. CONCLUSION: Routine abdominal CT results in higher treatment costs compared to selective use of imaging in patients with acute abdomen. KEY POINTS: • CT is widely used almost routinely in the diagnostics of acute abdomen. • Patients with acute abdomen were randomised to routine CT or selective imaging. • The treatment costs were significantly higher in the routine CT group. • Length of hospital stay was longer in the CT group. • Selective use of imaging may help control continuous increases of treatment costs.
Authors: Johan Styrud; Staffan Eriksson; Ingemar Nilsson; Gunnar Ahlberg; Staffan Haapaniemi; Gunnar Neovius; Lars Rex; Ibrahim Badume; Lars Granström Journal: World J Surg Date: 2006-06 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: John J Hong; Stephen M Cohn; A Peter Ekeh; Martin Newman; Moises Salama; Suzanne D Leblang Journal: Surg Infect (Larchmt) Date: 2003 Impact factor: 2.150
Authors: Mia M Pries-Heje; Rasmus B Hasselbalch; Henriette Raaschou; Bijan Rezanavaz-Gheshlagh; Hanne Heebøll; Shazia Rehman; Mariana Kristensen; Erik Henning Andersen; Lisbet Ravn; Michel C Nèmery; Morten N Lind; Thomas Boel; Peter Sommer Ulriksen; Kasper K Iversen Journal: Emerg Radiol Date: 2018-02-17
Authors: Alexandra Platon; Chloe Frund; Laura Meijers; Thomas Perneger; Elisabeth Andereggen; Minerva Becker; Alice Halfon Poletti; Olivier T Rutschmann; Pierre-Alexandre Poletti Journal: BMC Emerg Med Date: 2019-01-18