Using a patient selection algorithm could reduce rates of perioperative complications in total shoulder arthroplasty patients at ASCs, according to research published in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery.
Researchers studied 61 patients who underwent primary anatomic and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty at an ASC. The patients were selected through an algorithm that stratifies patients based on cardiopulmonary comorbidities and age. Researchers recorded complications such as wound problems and cardiopulmonary and thromboembolic complications.
The key details to know:
1. All patients were discharged from the ASC the same day as surgery.
2. Patients did not experience cardiopulmonary events requiring hospital admission or intervention.
3. Three patients had acute surgical complications, three had postoperative nausea and four had additional complications within 90 days. One patient required a secondary operation.
4. Researchers concluded, "This study is the first to propose a patient selection method for outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty. Using this algorithm for patient selection produced a low rate of perioperative complications and no hospital admissions. We suggest this algorithm provides an evidence-based method for the standardization of outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty candidate selection."