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Introduction: The shortage of available beds and the increase in Emergency Department pressure can cause some patients to be admitted in wards with available beds assigned to other services (outlying patients). The aim of this study is to assess the frequency, types of complications and costs of outlying patients., Methods: Using a retrospective cohort model, we analysed the 2015 general and digestive surgery records (source: Minimum Basic Data Set and economic database). After selecting all outlying patients, we compared the complications, length of stay, costs and consequences of complications against a randomized sample of non-outlying patients with the same DRG and date of episode for every outlying patient, obtaining one non-outlying patient for each selected outlying patient. Thirteen outlying patients with no non-outlying patient pair were excluded from the study., Results: From a total of 2,915 patients, 363 (12.45%) were outlying patients. A total of 350 outlying patients were analysed versus 350 non-outlying patients. There were no significant differences in complications (9.4 vs. 8.3%), length of stay (4.33 vs. 4.65 days) or costs (€3,034.12 vs. €3,223.27). Outlying patients men presented a significantly higher risk of complications compared to women (RR=2.10). Outlying patients presented complications after 2.5 or more days., Conclusions: When outlying admissions become necessary, the selection of patients with less complex pathologies does not increase complications or their consequences (ICU admissions, readmissions, reoperations or mortality), hospital stays or costs. Only in cases of prolonged outlying stays of more than 2.5 days, or in males, may more complications appear. Therefore, male outliers should be avoided in general, and patients should be transferred to the proper ward if a length of stay beyond 2.5 days is foreseen., (Copyright © 2019 AEC. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The aim was to assess the impact on economic costs and length of stay (LOS) of postoperative complications., Methods: 5,822 records from BMDS (2014-2015) are included. A descriptive, univariate and multivariate study evaluated the correlation between complications, Clavien-Dindo grade and vacation periods with LOS and economic costs, based on a full-cost model, aggregated by DRG., Results and Conclusions: Mean cost per stay was €676.71, and €4,309.02 per episode. Complications appeared in 639 patients (11%). Admission to ICU was required in 203 patients, re-operation in 134 and re-admission in 243, while 66 patients died (1.1%). Complications caused significantly longer LOS (20.08 vs 5.48 days) and higher economic cost (€11,670.31 vs €3,354.12); infectious complications were the most frequent and respiratory the most expensive (€20,428.53), together with ICU admission (€20,242.66). Clavien-Dindo grade correlated with greater LOS and costs (except gradev). During vacation periods, complications and LOS are increased, but costs of these complications and LOS did not differ significantly from complications detected in non-vacation periods., (Copyright © 2018 AEC. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: The discharge report is a basic document at the end of a care process, and is a key element in the coding process, since its correct wording, reliability and completeness are factors used to determine the hospital production., Material and Methods: From a hypothesis based on the analysis of the consistency between the discharge report and data collected from the routine clinical notes during admission, we should be able to re-code all those mis-coded, thus placing them in a more appropriate diagnosis-related group (DRG). A total of 24 patient outliers were analysed for the correct filling in of the type and reason for admission, personal history, medication, anamnesis, primary and secondary diagnosis, sugical procedure, outcome, number of diagnostic and procedures cited, concordance between discharge report and history and recoding of the DRG., Results: From a total of 24 episodes, 6 had precise and valid reports, 4 were valid but not precise enough, 9 were insufficient, and 5 were clearly invalid. The recoded DRG after the documentation review was not significantly different, according to the Wilcoxon test, being changed in only 5 cases (P = .680)., Conclusion: Quality in discharge reports depends on an adequate minimum data set (MDS) in concordance with the source documentation during admission. Discordance can change the DRG, despite it not being significantly different in our series. Self-audit of discharge reports allows quality improvements to be developed along with a reduction in information mistakes., (Copyright © 2012 AEC. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The Doppler-guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation (DG-HAL) is a non-exeresis technique for the treatment of haemorrhoids, consisting in the ligature of the distal branches of the upper rectal artery. The aim of this work is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technique after one year of follow-up., Material and Method: A total of 30 patients were operated on using DG-HAL for grade II or III haemorrhoids. The mean age was 49.9 years (30-70 years). The THD® (Transanal Haemorrhoidal Dearterialisation) device was employed in all cases. The procedures were performed under intradural anaesthesia in a short-stay surgery unit. The operating time, pain, bleeding, postoperative stay, and complications and symptoms after 3-6 months and 12 months were recorded., Results: The mean operating time was 23minutes (15-50). The pain according to a visual analogue scale (VAS) was 5.5 during the first day (90% required analgesia). Only 2 patients required analgesia after the second day. One patient described persistent pain up to 3 months, and 2 slight bleeding. A further operation was performed due to a haemorrhoidal thrombosis on the 10(th) day. There were no other complications and no re-admissions. The mean hospital stay was 1.4 days (0-2), and normal daily activity re-established at 7-8 days. A large majority (87%) of patients described having tenesmus, which disappeared in 3 months. After one year, two patients had had further operations, 3 had recurrences (2 slight prolapses and 1 occasional bleeding). The success rate was 80%., Conclusions: Haemorrhoidal dearterialisation using Doppler-guided arterial ligation seems to be effective after one year, with a low percentage of complications., (Copyright © 2012 AEC. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)