Primary payer status is associated with the use of nerve block placement for ambulatory orthopedic surgery.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Although more than 30 million patients in the United States undergo ambulatory surgery each year, it remains unclear what percentage of these patients receive a perioperative nerve block. We reviewed data from the 2006 National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery to determine the demographic, socioeconomic, geographic, and clinical factors associated with the likelihood of nerve block placement for ambulatory orthopedic surgery. The primary outcome of interest was the association between primary method of payment and likelihood of nerve block placement. In addition, we examined the association between type of surgical procedures, patient demographics, and hospital characteristics with the likelihood of receiving a nerve block.

Methods

This cross-sectional study reviewe

SUBMITTER: Tighe PJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3337363 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature