Variability and Costs of Low-Value Preoperative Testing for Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Choosing Wisely Top-5 list of activities to avoid includes "Don't obtain baseline laboratory studies in patients without significant systemic disease (ASA I or II) undergoing low-risk surgery - specifically complete blood count, basic or comprehensive metabolic panel, coagulation studies when blood loss (or fluid shifts) is/are expected to be minimal." Accordingly, we define low-value preoperative tests (LVTs) as those performed before minor surgery in patients without significant systemic disease. The objective of the current study was to examine the extent, variability, drivers, and costs of LVTs before carpal tunnel release (CTR) surgeries in the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Methods

Using fiscal year (

SUBMITTER: Harris AHS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6760302 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature