title: Safety and cost-effectiveness of outpatient colonoscopic polypectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Factors that increase the complications arising from colonoscopic polypectomy have been well studied; however, data regarding complications from outpatient polypectomy is limited. The aim of this study was to identify the safety and costeffectiveness of outpatient colonoscopic polypectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive series of 804 patients who underwent colonoscopic polypectomy for 1,446 polyps were analyzed. Clinical outcomes, complications and medical costs were compared between outpatient (n=731) and planned inpatient groups (n=73) to assess the safety and cost-effectiveness of the colonoscopic polypectomy. The risk factors for polypectomy- related complications were assessed by a multivariate logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in the complication rates between the outpatient polypectomy group (1.1%) and the planned inpatient group (2.7%), and outpatient service was not a significant risk factor of complications in the colonoscopic polypectomy by multivariate analysis. The outcomes of complications were not worsened by outpatient procedures. However, total cost for an outpatient polypectomy for a single polyp without any complication was 37.4% lower than that for a planned inpatient polypectomy, which was a significant reduction (p=0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colonoscopic polypectomy can be safely and cost-effectively performed in the outpatient setting with minimal controllable complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Gang Dong Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Jae Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Joung Ii
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang Roo
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Hyun Phil
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000191:economics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D061214:Patient Safety; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome