Open AccessAcute Care Resource Use After Elective Surgery in the United States: Implications During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s) -
Vijay Krishnamoorthy,
Tetsu Ohnuma,
Raquel R. Bartz,
Matthew Fuller,
Nita Khandelwal,
Krista Haines,
Charles D. Scales,
Karthik Raghunathan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of critical care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1937-710X
pISSN - 1062-3264
DOI - 10.4037/ajcc2021818
Subject(s) - medicine , elective surgery , intensive care unit , emergency medicine , health care , intensive care medicine , acute care , coronary artery bypass surgery , medical emergency , surgery , artery , economics , economic growth
Background The COVID-19 pandemic created pressure to delay inpatient elective surgery to increase US health care capacity. This study examined the extent to which common inpatient elective operations consume acute care resources. Methods This cross-sectional study used the Premier Healthcare Database to examine the distribution of inpatient elective operations in the United States from the fourth quarter of 2015 through the second quarter of 2018. Primary outcomes were measures of acute care use after 4 common elective operations: joint replacement, spinal fusion, bariatric surgery, and coronary artery bypass grafting. A framework for matching changing demand with changes in supply was created by overlaying acute care data with publicly available outbreak capacity data. Results Elective coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 117 423) had the highest acute care use: 92.8% of patients used intensive care unit beds, 89.1% required postoperative mechanical ventilation, 41.0% required red blood cell transfusions, and 13.3% were readmitted within 90 days of surgery. Acute care use was also substantial after spinal fusion (n = 203 789): 8.3% of patients used intensive care unit beds, 2.2% required postoperative mechanical ventilation, 9.2% required red blood cell transfusions, and 9.3% were readmitted within 90 days of surgery. An example of a framework for matching hospital demand with elective surgery supply is provided. Conclusions Acute care needs after elective surgery in the United States are consistent and predictable. When these data are overlaid with national hospital capacity models, rational decisions regarding matching supply to demand can be achieved to meet changing needs.