Research published in the Journal of Arthroplasty compared the rate of adverse events in outpatient and inpatient total hip arthroplasty.
Researchers studied 136 patients who underwent unilateral THA by one surgeon who were discharged on the same day of surgery, as well as 136 inpatients who had the same procedure. They compared adverse events after 90-days, readmission and visits to emergency departments for both cohorts. Researchers also examined potential barriers to the patients being discharged the same day of surgery.
Here are the key research insights to know:
1. Within 90-days, 12 outpatients and 14 inpatients had an adverse event.
2. There weren't any severe adverse events in either cohort, and there wasn't a difference in severity of events between the two groups.
3. In the outpatient group, the researchers found a correlation between the dosage of the spinal anesthetic bupivacaine and time the patients were required to stay in the postanesthetic care unit after surgery.
4. "When comparing the two groups, there were no differences in adverse events at 90 days. At our center, in the appropriate patient population, outpatient THA is a safe and cost-effective option. A potential barrier to mobility postoperatively and successful same-day discharge is the time required to stay in postanesthetic care unit postoperatively, which was significantly correlated with an increased dose of spinal anesthetic given in our outpatient cohort," the researchers concluded.
Click here to read the full study.