We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Research Suggests Avoidance of Low-Value Surgical Procedures

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 28 Nov 2017
Print article
A new study suggests that stopping just five high-cost general surgical procedures could reduce health services costs and improve patient care.

Researchers at Imperial College London (ICL; United Kingdom) conducted a study with the intention of identifying low-value interventions in general surgery, with a further assessment of their cost. To do so, a multiplatform method that included a broad literature search, a targeted database search, and opportunistic sampling was established; the results were then stratified to assess both cost and frequency of each procedure. In all, 71 low value general surgical procedures were identified, of which five were of high volume and high cost, 23 were of high cost and low volume, 22 belonged to the low cost and high volume group, and 21 were in the low cost and low volume group.

The results revealed that the highest impact interventions included inguinal hernia repair in minimally symptomatic patients, inappropriate gastroscopy, interval cholecystectomy, computerized tomography (CT) scans to diagnose appendicitis, and a routine endoscopy performed in those with CT-confirmed diverticulitis. The five general surgical procedures carried a financial burden of €153 million. The study was published on November 8, 2017, in the British Journal of Surgery (BJS).

“It is the basic thought of every surgeon at their earliest decision when becoming a doctor to act in the patient’s best interests, and this inherent belief should provide motivation to maximize value of care,” said lead author Humza Malik, MD, of the ICL academic surgical unit. “Remembering this, clinicians should lead changes to provide pertinent, precise treatments, thereby avoiding ineffective interventions and challenging existing dogma that ‘more care is better care.’”

Since 2006, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE; London, UK) has undertaken a formal agenda to address the issue of disinvesting in low-value care, procedures, and practices. Internationally, Choosing Wisely (Philadelphia, PA, USA) has also addressed the issue through promotion of physician and patient conversation, in order to reduce unnecessary interventions. The Choosing Wisely campaign has since been adopted by other countries, including Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

Related Links:
Imperial College London
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Choosing Wisely

Gold Member
12-Channel ECG
CM1200B
Gold Member
POC Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile Prime Plus
Silver Member
Wireless Mobile ECG Recorder
NR-1207-3/NR-1207-E
New
Electrosurgical Unit
es 120

Print article

Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: Researchers have developed a novel risk score for cardiovascular complications after bone marrow transplant (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Tool Predicts Cardiovascular Risks after Bone Marrow Transplantation

Every year, thousands of people undergo bone marrow transplants to potentially cure serious diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, and immune deficiency disorders. While these transplants can be lifesaving,... Read more

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: The Early Bird Bleed Monitoring System provides visual and audible indicators of the onset and progression of bleeding events (Photo courtesy of Saranas)

Novel Technology Monitors and Lowers Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Heart Procedures

Bleeding complications at the femoral access site can significantly hamper recovery, affecting the success of procedures, patient satisfaction, and overall healthcare costs. It is crucial for surgeons... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The newly-launched solution can transform operating room scheduling and boost utilization rates (Photo courtesy of Fujitsu)

Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization

An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The new eye-safe laser technology can diagnose traumatic brain injury (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Diagnostic Hand-Held Device Detects Known Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury

The growing need for prompt and efficient diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major cause of mortality globally, has spurred the development of innovative diagnostic technologies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.