Lisa Lindqvist1, Andreas Andersson2, Johanna Österberg3,4, Gabriel Sandblom5,6, Oskar Hemmingsson2, Pär Nordin2, Lars Enochsson2,3,7. 1. Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Surgery, Umeå University, 901 87, Umea, Sweden. lisa.lindqvist@umu.se. 2. Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Surgery, Umeå University, 901 87, Umea, Sweden. 3. Department of Clinical Sciences, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. 4. Department of Surgery, Mora Hospital, Mora, Sweden. 5. Department of Clinical Science and Education Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. 6. Department of Surgery, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. 7. Department of Surgery, Sunderby Hospital, Lulea, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The organization of healthcare could have an impact on the outcome of patients treated for acute cholecystitis (AC). The aim of this study was to analyze the way in which patients with AC are managed relative to the level of care by the treating hospital. METHODS: Data were collected from the Swedish Register for Gallstone Surgery and ERCP (GallRiks). Cholecystectomies between 2010 and 2019 were included. The inclusion criterion was acute cholecystectomy in patients with AC operated at either tertiary referral centers (TRCs) or regional hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 24,194 cholecystectomies with AC met the inclusion criterion. The time between admission and acute surgery was significantly elongated at TRCs compared with regional hospitals (2.2 ± 1.7 days vs. 1.6 ± 1.4 days, mean ± SD; p < 0.0001). Patients with a history of AC were more frequent at TRC (10.1% vs. 8.9%, p < 0.0056) and had a higher adverse event rate compared with those at regional hospitals (OR 1.61; CI 1.40-1.84, p < 0.0001). Surprisingly, an increased number of hospital beds correlated slightly with an increased number of days between admission and surgery (R2 = 0.132; p = 0.0075). CONCLUSION: Compared with regional hospitals, patients with AC had to wait longer at TRCs before surgery. A history of AC significantly increased the risk of adverse events. These findings indicate that logistic and organizational aspects of hospital care may affect the management of patients with AC. However, whether these findings can be generalized to healthcare organizations outside Sweden requires further investigation.
BACKGROUND: The organization of healthcare could have an impact on the outcome of patients treated for acute cholecystitis (AC). The aim of this study was to analyze the way in which patients with AC are managed relative to the level of care by the treating hospital. METHODS: Data were collected from the Swedish Register for Gallstone Surgery and ERCP (GallRiks). Cholecystectomies between 2010 and 2019 were included. The inclusion criterion was acute cholecystectomy in patients with AC operated at either tertiary referral centers (TRCs) or regional hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 24,194 cholecystectomies with AC met the inclusion criterion. The time between admission and acute surgery was significantly elongated at TRCs compared with regional hospitals (2.2 ± 1.7 days vs. 1.6 ± 1.4 days, mean ± SD; p < 0.0001). Patients with a history of AC were more frequent at TRC (10.1% vs. 8.9%, p < 0.0056) and had a higher adverse event rate compared with those at regional hospitals (OR 1.61; CI 1.40-1.84, p < 0.0001). Surprisingly, an increased number of hospital beds correlated slightly with an increased number of days between admission and surgery (R2 = 0.132; p = 0.0075). CONCLUSION: Compared with regional hospitals, patients with AC had to wait longer at TRCs before surgery. A history of AC significantly increased the risk of adverse events. These findings indicate that logistic and organizational aspects of hospital care may affect the management of patients with AC. However, whether these findings can be generalized to healthcare organizations outside Sweden requires further investigation.
Authors: Ulrich Güller; Rene Warschkow; Christoph Jakob Ackermann; Bruno Schmied; Thomas Cerny; Silvia Ess Journal: Swiss Med Wkly Date: 2017-07-24 Impact factor: 2.193