Determinants of hospital charges for coronary artery bypass surgery: the economic consequences of postoperative complications.
Taylor GJ, Mikell FL, Moses HW, Dove JT, Katholi RE, Malik SA, Markwell SJ, Korsmeyer C, Schneider JA, Wellons HA.
Prairie Cardiovascular Center, Springfield, Illinois.
This is a prospective study of 500 consecutive patients having coronary artery bypass surgery; mean hospital charge from time of surgery to discharge was +11,900 +/- 12,700. Multiple regression analysis was performed using preoperative variables and postoperative complications. No preoperative clinical feature was a significant predictor of higher average charge. Sternal wound infection (p = 0.0001), respiratory failure (p = 0.0001) and left ventricular failure (p = 0.017) were associated with higher average hospital charge. The absence of any complication predicted a lower average charge, and postoperative death (4.4 +/- 4.5 days after surgery) was also associated with lower average charge. A cost equation was developed: hospital charge equalled $11,217 + $41,559 of sternal wound infection, + $28,756 for respiratory failure, + $5,186 for left ventricular failure, - $1,798 for no complication and - $6,019 for death. Recognition of the influence of complications on charges suggests that low average charges can only be achieved by surgical programs with a low complication rate.
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PMID: 2105627 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]