Costs incurred by outpatient surgical centers in managing postoperative nausea and vomiting.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the financial costs incurred by outpatient surgical centers in managing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).


METHODS
Prospective, observational study.


METHODS
6 hospital-based outpatient surgery centers.


METHODS
211 adult patients undergoing outpatient surgery for laparoscopy, dilatation and curettage, knee arthroscopy, or hernia repair.


RESULTS
Of the 211 patients studied, 34 experienced PONV in the recovery room. For those patients experiencing PONV, personnel, supply, and drug costs for management of this condition averaged $14.94 per patient. In addition, PONV increased the centers' operating costs by delaying patient discharge by an average of 24 minutes. A minimum estimate of this cost, based on nurses' wage rates, was $7.12. This estimate is appropriate only for short-run considerations in outpatient surgery centers that operate at low capacity. An appropriate valuation for long-run considerations and for centers operating near capacity is based on the revenue that centers lose as a result of extended stays. Lost revenue was estimated to be $415 per patient experiencing PONV.


CONCLUSIONS
PONV substantially increases the costs incurred by outpatient surgical centers.
Carroll
N V
NV
School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond.
Miederhoff
P A
PA
Cox
F M
FM
Hirsch
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics* / Q000451:nursing; D016527:Drug Costs; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000191:economics* / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000191:economics; D016528:Postanesthesia Nursing / Q000191:economics; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011997:Recovery Room / Q000191:economics; D013531:Surgicenters / Q000191:economics*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000191:economics* / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000078329:Workforce