Predictors of Outcomes in Cerebellar Stroke: A Retrospective Cohort Study From the National Inpatient Sample Data.

Cerebellar strokes have high morbidity and mortality due to bleeding or edema, leading to increased pressure in the posterior fossa. This retrospective cohort study analyzed three outcomes following a cerebellar stroke: in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, and total hospitalization costs. It uses data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and aims to identify the predictors of outcomes in cerebellar stroke patients, including 464,324 patients, 18 years of age and older, hospitalized between 2010 and 2015 in US hospitals with cerebellar strokes.

Cost of Chiari I Malformation Surgery: Comparison of Treatment at Children's Hospitals Versus Non-children's Hospitals.

Chiari I malformation is a common entity in pediatric neurosurgery. Prior studies have shown that surgical treatment at children's hospitals (CH) is associated with higher costs compared to non-children's hospitals (NCH) for other diagnoses. Therefore, we hypothesized that costs would be increased for the treatment of Chiari I malformation at a CH.

Reimbursement Penalties and 30-Day Readmissions Following Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Background: The U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act created the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) and the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP).

Adrenalectomy: should urologists not be doing more?

Purpose: Adrenalectomy is an operation performed by both urologists and general surgeons; however, the majority are performed by general surgeons. We investigated whether there was a difference in outcomes based on surgical specialty performing the procedure. If no differences exist, an argument can be made that urologists should be doing more adrenalectomies.

Readmissions attributable to skilled nursing facility use after a colectomy: Evidence using propensity scores matching.

Background: Postacute care (PAC) is a major driver of the rising health care costs in the United States (US). There is limited evidence on the causal effect of skilled nursing facility (SNF) use on readmission after an inpatient colectomy.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) on 38,635 patients who underwent an inpatient colectomy between 2011 and 2014 in a Pennsylvania hospital.

Thirty-day Readmission Rates for Carotid Endarterectomy Versus Carotid Artery Stenting.

Background: Because of the emergence of readmission-related Medicare penalties, efforts are being made to identify and reduce patient readmissions. The purpose of this study was to compare rates and risk factors for 30-d readmission and hospital length of stay (LOS) after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) among patients treated for carotid artery stenosis in Pennsylvania.

Materials And Methods: Data were from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4).

The attributable cost of catheter-associated urinary tract infections in the United States: A systematic review.

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the most common healthcare-acquired condition. The attributable cost of CAUTIs is frequently cited to be approximately $1,000. However, there is a paucity of recent literature that confirms this estimate.

Delineating the burden of chronic post-operative pain in patients undergoing open repair of complex ventral hernias.

Background: After open complex ventral hernia repair (cVHR), chronic pain has a significant impact on quality of life and processes of care.

Methods: Records of 177 patients undergoing cVHR were reviewed in order to characterize the burden of managing postoperative pain in the first post-operative year following open cVHR.

Results: In this cohort, 91 patients initiated at least one unsolicited complaint of pain, though phone call (37), unscheduled clinic visit (45) or evaluation in the emergency room (9); among these an actionable diagnosis was found in 38 (41.