The researchers at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., reviewed the charts of 28,456 patients who underwent ambulatory surgery between 2006 and 2010 at a freestanding surgical center next to the university. The study found an unplanned hospital admission rate of 0.45 percent, or 127 patients. The average age of admitted patients was 48 years, with an average body mass of 30 kg/m2.
Just over half of the admitted patients were classified as ASA physical status I/II, with the remainder having classifications of ASA III/IV and obesity. The main reasons for admissions were medical-related issues, cardiac complications and then surgical-related reasons. Medical-related issues were the most expensive to treat.
The researchers believe the low unplanned admission rate means the Duke staff chose patients who were appropriate for outpatient surgery.
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