title: Fast tracking carotid endarterectomy: practical considerations.
abstract: The diagnosis-related groups (DRG) and managed care economics have encouraged physicians to be more cost and resource efficient. In response to this demand, a fast track program for elective carotid endarterectomies has been established at Sewickley Valley Hospital. The essential components of this four-step program are operation based on duplex ultrasonography alone, same-day admission, a short recovery room stay to limit intensive care use, and discharge on the first postoperative day. Overall, 79% of patients for elective carotid endarterectomy successfully completed all four steps of the protocol at our institution. This has resulted in marked cost savings.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Surgery, Sewickley Valley Hospital, PA, USA.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Collier
mesh_terms: D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex