Duygu Arabacioglu1, Annette Lehn2, Eva Herrmann2, Benjamin Albers1, Ernst Hanisch1, Alexander Buia1. 1. Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery, Asklepios Klinik Langen, Academic Teaching Hospital Goethe University Frankfurt, Langen, Germany. 2. Department of Biostatistics and Mathematical Modeling, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Care pathways are primarily aimed at decreasing length of hospital stay (LOS) and preventing unnecessary costs while maintaining or improving the quality of care. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, there is insufficient evidence for proving an impact upon postoperative complications. METHODS: In this retrospective study, logistic regression was used to calculate a propensity score, and, after carrying out 1:1 nearest-neighbor matching, 296 patients were analyzed in both groups with regard to postoperative complications using the Clavien-Dindo classification system as a primary aim. In addition, secondary aims were LOS, compliance to care, and deviation from the care pathway with respect to patient discharge. Relative risk of the primary outcome was calculated and compared with the e-value as sensitivity testing approach. RESULTS: Due to the mandatory part of the care pathway, patient record compliance was 100%. Deviation from the care pathway with respect to the planned patient discharge on postoperative day 2 was noted in 16% of the cases. After adjustment for potential factors, the relative risk when comparing Clavien-Dindo complication grades 0 versus 1-4 is 1.64 (95% CI 0.87-3.11), which did not reach significance (p = 0.127). After matching, LOS lasted 3.69 days without and 3.26 days with the care pathway, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Against the background of already implemented structured standard operation procedures, a care pathway is not able to reduce postoperative complications. Nevertheless, we consider our clinical pathway a highly valuable tool for the interdisciplinary management of patient hospitalization under the supervision of experienced specialized surgeons.
BACKGROUND: Care pathways are primarily aimed at decreasing length of hospital stay (LOS) and preventing unnecessary costs while maintaining or improving the quality of care. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, there is insufficient evidence for proving an impact upon postoperative complications. METHODS: In this retrospective study, logistic regression was used to calculate a propensity score, and, after carrying out 1:1 nearest-neighbor matching, 296 patients were analyzed in both groups with regard to postoperative complications using the Clavien-Dindo classification system as a primary aim. In addition, secondary aims were LOS, compliance to care, and deviation from the care pathway with respect to patient discharge. Relative risk of the primary outcome was calculated and compared with the e-value as sensitivity testing approach. RESULTS: Due to the mandatory part of the care pathway, patient record compliance was 100%. Deviation from the care pathway with respect to the planned patient discharge on postoperative day 2 was noted in 16% of the cases. After adjustment for potential factors, the relative risk when comparing Clavien-Dindo complication grades 0 versus 1-4 is 1.64 (95% CI 0.87-3.11), which did not reach significance (p = 0.127). After matching, LOS lasted 3.69 days without and 3.26 days with the care pathway, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Against the background of already implemented structured standard operation procedures, a care pathway is not able to reduce postoperative complications. Nevertheless, we consider our clinical pathway a highly valuable tool for the interdisciplinary management of patient hospitalization under the supervision of experienced specialized surgeons.
Authors: Louise Hull; Sonal Arora; Rajesh Aggarwal; Ara Darzi; Charles Vincent; Nick Sevdalis Journal: J Am Coll Surg Date: 2011-12-24 Impact factor: 6.113
Authors: Thomas Rotter; Leigh Kinsman; Erica James; Andreas Machotta; Jon Willis; Pamela Snow; Joachim Kugler Journal: Eval Health Prof Date: 2011-05-24 Impact factor: 2.651
Authors: Jan P Vandenbroucke; Erik von Elm; Douglas G Altman; Peter C Gøtzsche; Cynthia D Mulrow; Stuart J Pocock; Charles Poole; James J Schlesselman; Matthias Egger Journal: Int J Surg Date: 2014-07-18 Impact factor: 6.071
Authors: Hilary Pinnock; Melanie Barwick; Christopher R Carpenter; Sandra Eldridge; Gonzalo Grandes; Chris J Griffiths; Jo Rycroft-Malone; Paul Meissner; Elizabeth Murray; Anita Patel; Aziz Sheikh; Stephanie J C Taylor Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2017-04-03 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Greg Ogrinc; Louise Davies; Daisy Goodman; Paul Batalden; Frank Davidoff; David Stevens Journal: BMJ Qual Saf Date: 2015-09-14 Impact factor: 7.035