The following is a summary of “Routine post-operative labs and healthcare system burden in acute appendicitis,” published in the November 2023 issue of Surgery by Sznol, et al.
The surge in healthcare costs, coupled with the proliferation of available laboratory tests, prompts a critical examination of resource utilization for cost containment. For a study, researchers sought to test the hypothesis that routine post-operative laboratory usage contributes to unwarranted costs and amplifies the burden on the healthcare system in the context of acute appendicitis (AA) management.
Conducting a retrospective cohort study covering patients with uncomplicated AA from 2016 to 2020, they collected data encompassing clinical variables, demographics, laboratory usage, interventions, and associated costs.
Among the 3,711 identified patients with uncomplicated AA, the overall costs attributed to laboratory tests ($289,505, 99.56%) and repletion ($1,287.63, 0.44%) totaled $290,792.63. Multivariable modeling demonstrated an association between an increased length of stay (LOS) and lab utilization, resulting in a cost escalation of $837,602 or $472.12 per patient.
The study underscored that despite incurring additional costs, routine post-operative laboratory testing failed to demonstrate a discernible impact on the clinical course. The findings advocated for re-evaluating the necessity of such testing, particularly in patients with minimal comorbidities, as it is likely to inflate costs without delivering commensurate value.
Source: americanjournalofsurgery.com/article/S0002-9610(23)00256-8/fulltext
