title: Economic burden of routine hematologic tests and intensive care unit observation for elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is one of the most common surgical interventions performed by spine surgeons. As efforts are made to control healthcare spending because of the limited or capped resources offered by the National Health Insurance, surgeons are faced with the challenge of offering high-level patient care while minimizing associated healthcare expenditures. Routine ordering of postoperative hematologic tests and observational intensive care unit (ICU) stay might be areas of potential cost containment. This study was designed to determine the necessity of routine postoperative hematologic tests and ICU stay for patients undergoing elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and to investigate whether the elimination of unnecessary postoperative laboratory blood studies and ICU stay inhibits patient care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The necessity for postoperative blood tests was determined if there were needs for a postoperative blood transfusion and hospital readmission within 1 month after surgery. The necessity for postoperative ICU observation was decided if immediate surgical intervention was required when any kind of complications occurred during the ICU stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 168 patients collected in the study. Among them, all had routine preoperative and postoperative blood tests and were transferred to ICU for observation. No need for blood transfusion was observed, and no patient required immediate surgical intervention when the complications occurred during the ICU stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cost savings per admission amounted to approximately 10% of the hospitalization cost by the elimination of unnecessary postoperative routine laboratory blood studies and observational ICU stay without waiving patient care in the current volatile, cost-conscious healthcare environment in Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Kuo
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chih-Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yu-Tung
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Yu-Wa
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Cheng-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chian
authors.forename: Yi-Tai
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shiuh-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: King-Teh
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D017046:Cost Savings; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D017586:Diskectomy; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013624:Taiwan