A critical pathway for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax

Abstract

We developed a Critical Pathway (CP) for patients with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax in April, 2003 for the purpose of shortening the length of hospital stay and reduction of the hospital charges. We reviewed 73 cases where the CP was applied. When we set the outcome to be discharge on the day after surgery, there were 13 variances(17.8%). Under the same national insurance system, the hospital charges were significantly reduced after the introduction of the CP(after: 64,303±3,843 points; n=35, compared with before: 69,354±12,052 points; n=44, p=0.026). Thus, the introduction of the CP was considered very useful in cost performance, but it was thought that an allowance for the discharge day was necessary.