title: Retrospective comparison of costs between medical and surgical treatment of canine pyothorax.
abstract: This study compared costs of treating dogs with pyothorax medically versus surgically. Medical records from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine were searched for cases of pyothorax that underwent either medical or surgical treatment. Patients undergoing surgery were subdivided into early (ES; < 48 h) and late (LS; > 48 h) surgery groups. Costs and length of stay were compared between treatment groups. Treatment costs were adjusted for inflation. Nineteen dogs were included in analysis; 7 in the medical group (MG), 5 in the ES group, and 7 in the LS group. Total costs were significantly lower in the MG than in the LS group. Total costs were less for the MG than the ES group, and for ES than LS, but the differences did not achieve significance. Preoperative costs were higher in the LS than the ES group. We conclude that surgery for canine pyothorax is less costly if pursued earlier than later.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison Wisconsin 53706 USA (Bach); The Ohio State Veterinary Medical College, 601 Vernon L Tharp Street, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA (Balakrishnan).
authors.forename: Jonathan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison Wisconsin 53706 USA (Bach); The Ohio State Veterinary Medical College, 601 Vernon L Tharp Street, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA (Balakrishnan).
authors.forename: Anusha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balakrishnan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000191:economics / Q000662:veterinary; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000191:economics / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents