Cost reduction using ultrasound in blunt abdominal trauma

被引：0
作者：
MacKenney K.L. [1 ]
McKenney M.G. [1 ]
Nunez D.B. [1 ]
Martin L. [1 ]
机构：
[1] Department of Radiology (R-109), Univ. of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33101
来源：
Emergency Radiology | 1997年 / 4卷 / 1期
关键词：
Abdominal trauma; Cost; Trauma; Ultrasonography;
D O I：
10.1007/BF01509334
中图分类号：
学科分类号：
摘要：
Ultrasound (US) provides a rapid, portable, and noninvasive method for evaluating the blunt trauma patient. In 1993, US was introduced into the work-up of blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) at our institution and has rapidly become the modality of choice over computed tomography (CT) and diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL). In this study, the cost effectiveness of utilizing US in BAT was evaluated. We compared the number of DPLs and CTs performed during the 6-month period in 1993 preceding the incorporation of US with the number of CTs, DPLs, and USs performed during the last 6 months of 1994. Costs were determined by the finance department based on actual expenditures by the hospital, excluding physician fees, in 1994 U.S. dollars. Six hundred twenty-six patients were evaluated for BAT during the 6-month period in 1993. In this group, 450 patients had CT examinations, 160 had DPL, and 16 had both. This resulted in a cost of $254,316. During the last 6 months in 1994, 564 patients were evaluated for BAT, including 470 USs, 175 CTs, and 11 DPLs. The cost for this group was $133,077, with a decrease in hospital expenditure of $170 per patient. We conclude that utilizing US in the evaluation of BAT leads to a significant cost reduction. Extrapolated over 1 year, with 1100 blunt abdominal trauma patients, the cost savings would be over $187,000.
引用
收藏
页码：3 / 6
页数：3
相关论文
共 62 条
  • [1] Gruessner R(1989)Sonography versus peritoneal lavage in blunt abdominal trauma J Trauma 29 242-4
  • [2] Mentges B(1992)Blunt abdominal trauma in cases of multiple trauma evaluated by ultrasonography: a prospective analysis of 291 patients J Trauma 32 452-8
  • [3] Duber C(1993)Blunt abdominal trauma in children: the practical value of ultrasonography J Trauma 34 607-11
  • [4] Hoffman R(1991)Emergency center ultrasonography in the evaluation of hemoperitoneum: a prospective study J Trauma 31 20-3
  • [5] Nerlich M(1994)The role of ultrasonography in blunt abdominal trauma: results in 250 consecutive cases J Trauma 36 178-81
  • [6] Muggia-Sullam M(1994)Ultrasonography in the management of blunt abdominal and thoracic trauma Arch Surg 129 743-7
  • [7] Luks FI(1988)Ultrasound in abdominal trauma: an alternative to peritoneal lavage Arch Emerg Med 5 26-33
  • [8] Lemire A(1992)Sonography in blunt abdominal trauma: a preliminary progress report J Trauma 33 39-44
  • [9] St.-Vil D(1993)Prospective evaluation of surgeons' use of ultrasound in the evaluation of trauma patients J Trauma 34 516-26
  • [10] Kimura A(1994)Can ultrasound replace diagnostic peritoneal lavage in blunt abdominal trauma? J Trauma 37 439-41
1234567