As the number of outpatient total joint arthroplasties performed in ASCs increases, researchers examined the percentage of patients eligible for the procedure in a study published in the Journal of Arthroplasty.
Researchers studied the charts of 3,444 patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty, assigning eligibility for outpatient surgery at an ASC based on criteria from the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusion criteria and any existing comorbidities.
Here are the key research insights to know:
1. Researchers found 70.3 percent of patients were eligible to have an outpatient total joint arthroplasty in an ASC.
2. Of the ASA class 3 patients without exclusion criteria but had systemic disease, 53.69 percent were ASC eligible due to low severity of comorbidities.
3. The most common reasons for ineligibility were body mass index (32.66 percent of ineligible patients), severity of comorbidities (28 percent) and untreated obstructive sleep apnea (25.19 percent).
4. "A large proportion of TJA patients were found to be eligible for surgery in an ASC, including over one-third of ASA class 3 patients. ASC performed TJA provides an opportunity for increased patient satisfaction and decreased costs, selecting the right candidates for the ambulatory setting is critical to maintain patient safety and avoid postoperative complications," the researchers concluded.
Click here to read the full study.