In its recent coverage of outpatient surgery centers, USA Today and Kaiser Health News did not mention this study and instead highlighted stories from individuals who experienced complications at outpatient surgery centers. In response, several organizations including the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association and the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia have responded with data-driven evidence to support outpatient surgery for the appropriately selected patients in centers that comply with regulatory standards.
Spine surgery is now different; Khanna et al. compares the complication rates for outpatient and inpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, reporting a 2.5 percent complication rate for inpatient ACDF and 1.2 percent complication rate for outpatient ACDF. Readmission rates were also higher in the inpatient group.
There are several reasons why complication rates are lower in the outpatient setting, including selection bias; patients healthy enough to undergo outpatient surgery don’t spread infectious diseases and don’t have comorbidities that put them at increased risk.
More articles on outpatient spine:
ACDF outpatient surgery cost significantly lower than inpatient: 3 key points
Dr. Mark Giovanini performs his 1st spine surgery with coflex in an ASC
UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center submits 3 proposals for new ASC: 3 key points
