Postoperative recurrence and medical economics of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for spontaneous pneumothorax
Fujinaga, T.; Satoda, N.; Fukuse, T.
Kyobu Geka. Japanese Journal of Thoracic Surgery 56(3): 194-198
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-5252 PMID: 12649909 Document Number: 559257
We analyzed 96 patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for pneumothorax of our institute (Otsu Red Cross Hospital) to determine the recurrence rate and to analyse various factors relating to recurrence and cost performance. From January 1997 to November 2000, we encountered 96 cases (78 male, 18 female, 14-72-year-old mean age 31.1). In 6 cases, pneumothorax had recurred (recurrent rate 6.3%), including 5 mals and 1 female (mean age 28.0). The relationship between recurrence and various factors including age, preoperative procedure, radiological bulla diagnosis, operation time, number of bulla or blebs, location of bulla, intraoperative treatment, post-operative air leakage, duration of postoperative drainage and duration of hospitalization was calculated. Preoperative diagnosis of bulla on chest X-ray film and computed tomography (CT) was significantly calculated a higher recurrence rate after VATS operation. Cost, age and operation time were significantly correlated, r = 0.514, r = 0.436, respectively, but length of hospitalization was not significant. To analyze cost performance, we investigated the correlation between cost/day and various factors. A negative correlation was noted between cost/day and the length of hospitalization (r = -0.739). In summary, recurrence rate of postoperative pneummothorax was 6.3% in our institute. When bulla was radiologically diagnosed preoperatively, recurrence tended to occur postoperatively. The negative correlation between cost/day and length of hospital stay suggests that the length of hospital stay should be reduced to as short as possible in terms of cost reduction.