[Economic restraints shorten the length of hospital stay: thyroid operation as a model case].
BACKGROUND
Decreasing the length of stay is a possible means of cost control in the medical system. Therefore we performed a study to test the feasibility of reducing hospital stay to 2 days after thyroid operation.


METHODS
In a controlled prospective trial, 238 patients were randomly assigned to group A (2 days of stay) or group B (more than 2 days). Studied were medical standard, practicability, patient acceptance, and quality of life.


RESULTS
Of those in group A, 56.6% did not leave the hospital at the scheduled 2nd day post operation. Reasons were preoperative hyperthyroidism ( P<0.011), postoperative hypocalcemia ( P<0.03), or unspecific disturbances. In group B, 28% of the patients left before the established borderline of 3-4 days, and only 35% left on the 2nd postoperative day.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced length of stay has no negative influence on medical standards. The quality of life of patients leaving the hospital on the 2nd postoperative day was significantly higher. Reducing hospital stay after thyroid operation to 2 postoperative days is desirable and possible without a loss in quality of care, except in case of postoperative complications or unspecific complaints.
Raffel
A
A
Klinik für Allgemein- und Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf. raffel@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Cupisti
K
K
Dotzenrath
B
B
Krüger
B
B
Ohmann
C
C
Schulte
K M
KM
Goretzki
P E
PE
Röher
H D
HD
D000328:Adult; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000191:economics; D011788:Quality of Life; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000191:economics*