J Minim Invasive Surg.  2016 Jun;19(2):57-62. 10.7602/jmis.2016.19.2.57.

The Usefulness of Critical Pathway in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

• Chong JU
• Choi JB
• Seo MA
• Lee SJ
• Cheon JH
• Kim KS

• KMID: 2362238
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7602/jmis.2016.19.2.57

Abstract

PURPOSE
Under the rising demand of health services, the critical pathway (CP) which standardizes the practice guideline was introduced as a means to provide quality healthcare service. CP may increase the patient's satisfaction rate by providing systematic and consistent service. We aimed to evaluate the significance of CP by development and application of CP to patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
METHODS
From June 2010 to July 2011, 148 patients underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were divided into two groups, including 57 patients in the CP group and 91 patients in the non-CP group. In a retrospective review, related hospital costs were analyzed and compared for both groups. Survey results on satisfaction for the CP group were also analyzed.
RESULTS
The mean age was 22.7 years in the CP group and 37.9 years in the non-CP group. Number of hospitalized days was one day for the CP group and 2.51 days for the Non-CP group with p<0.001. In cost analysis all variables showed a significant reduction in the CP group compared to the Non-CP group. The satisfaction rate in the CP group scored 8 points out of 10.
CONCLUSION
Results have shown benefit from the financial point of the view for the CP group. Current inclusion criteria for CP are limited and still in development for a solid protocol. Further efforts with a large-scale comparative study to broaden the indication for CP are desired.

Keyword

Cholecystectomy; Laparoscopic; Critical pathways; Hospital costs

MeSH Terms

Cholecystectomy
Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic*
Costs and Cost Analysis
Critical Pathways*
Delivery of Health Care
Health Services
Hospital Costs
Humans
Retrospective Studies