Clinical pathway for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax in a general surgery department.
Primary spontaneous pneumothorax is a common abnormality for which there is a variety of treatments. This study presents the results of a year's evaluation of a clinical pathway (CP). A series of 34 patients treated during 1 year before CP development was analyzed to identify the weak points. To address these weak points, the CP includes associated protocols. In the CP, 31 patients were evaluated during 1 year; the results were compared with those of the pre-CP series. The mean length of stay of the pre-CP patients and the CP patients was 7.3 days and 5.0 days, respectively. The number of radiographs fell from 4.3 to 3.2. The rate of complications and readmissions is similar in both groups. The mean cost per process dropped from 1863 [UNKNOWN] to 1168 [UNKNOWN]. The CP for pneumothorax successfully manages to reduce both the variability in care patterns and hospital costs, justifying the work involved in its development and implementation.
Soria
Víctor
V
General Surgery Department of the General Hospital J. M. Morales Meseguer in Murcia, Spain. med018949@saludalia.com
Coll
Antonio
A
Flores
Benito
B
Miguel
Joana
J
Torralba
José Antonio
JA
Andrés
Bruno
B
Carrasco
Milagros
M
Aguayo
Jose Luis
JL
D019091:Critical Pathways; D006801:Humans; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013030:Spain; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*