Preoperative Laboratory Testing in Patients Undergoing Elective

Preoperative Laboratory Testing in
Patients Undergoing Elective,
Low-Risk Ambulatory Surgery
Jaime Benarroch-Gampel, Kristin M. Sheffield,
Casey B. Duncan, Kimberly M. Brown, Yimei Han,
Courtney M. Townsend, Jr., and Taylor S. Riall
Department of Surgery
Center for Comparative Effectiveness and Cancer Outcomes
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, TX
Which of the following preoperative
laboratory test is routinely indicated in an 80
years old male undergoing low-risk
ambulatory surgery
A.Complete blood count
B.Chemistry panel
C.Coagulation tests
D.All of the test
E.None of the test
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
INTRODUCTION
• Ambulatory surgery
– <1-2 hours in duration
– Low expected blood loss
– Low complication rates
– Minimal expected postoperative care
– Performed in patients with no medical problems or
stable chronic medical conditions
• 60-70% of procedures in the U.S. performed in
the ambulatory setting
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
INTRODUCTION
• Potential benefits of preoperative testing
– Predicting patient risk for postoperative complications
– Screening for unsuspected abnormalities
– Establishing baseline values for tests that may change
after surgery
– Providing medical-legal protection
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
INTRODUCTION
• Potential risks of preoperative testing
– Cost: estimated between 3-18 billion
– Increased pain and inconvenience
– Anxiety for patients
– Abnormal results in some cases are of questionable
clinical significance
– Harm to patients due to overtreatment of false-positive
results
– Medical-legal risk
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
INTRODUCTION
• Current recommendations based on 2002 Practice Advisory
from American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)
– Based on expert opinion and underpowered studies
– Inconsistencies between societies
– Imprecise language
• Many advocate against routine testing
• Fail to outline clear and consistent guidelines for specific
tests
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
INTRODUCTION
INDICATION
Advanced age
Bleeding
disorders
Hg/CBC Creatinine Electrolytes LFTs
ASA
OPTG
ASA
Cardiovascular
disease
Renal disease
CAS
OPTG
CAS
OPTG
Liver disease
CAS
OPTG
Hypertension
OPTG
Diabetes
Smoking
Alcohol abuse
OPTG
OPTG
OPTG
Albumin Coagulation
Parameters
OPTG
ASA
CAS
OPTG
CAS
OPTG
CAS
OPTG
OPTG
ASA
CAS
OPTG
ASA
OPTG
ASA
CAS
OPTG
OPTG
OPTG
CAS
OPTG
CAS
OPTG
ASA: American Society of Anesthesiologists, CAS: Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society,
OPTG: Ontario Preoperative Testing Grid, LFT: Liver Function Tests
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
OBJECTIVES
• Use population-based data (NSQIP) to:
– Describe the current use of preoperative
testing in elective, low-risk ambulatory surgery
• All patients
• Subgroup with no comorbidities
– Identify patient factors associated with
preoperative testing
– Evaluate the association between preoperative
testing and 30-day outcomes
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
METHODS
Data Source
• National Surgical Quality Improvement Program
Participant Use Data File (PUF)
• Study period: 2005-2010
• Contains 240 variables:
– Patient characteristics
– Procedure characteristics
• Anatomic site
• Open vs. laparoscopic
• Initial vs. recurrent
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
METHODS
Cohort Selection
• Inclusion criteria:
– >18 years old
– Elective hernia repair (CPT codes)
•
•
•
•
Inguinal hernia (49505, 49520, 49525, 49650, 49651)
Umbilical hernia (49585)
Epigastric hernia (49570)
Femoral hernia (49550, 49555)
– Same day admission
– No surgery in previous 30 days
– No additional surgical procedures at time of hernia repair
Cohort Selection (continued)
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
METHODS
Laboratory Testing
• Preoperative testing defined as testing in the 30 days up to
and including surgery
• Normal values were defined using our institutional laboratory
ranges
LFTs
Hematology
Chemistry
Coagulation
Hematocrit
WBC
Platelets
Sodium
BUN
creatinine
PT
PTT
INR
Albumin
Total bilirubin
AST
Alkaline
phosphatase
92%
90%
77%
89%
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
METHODS
• Additional outcome variables:
– Major complications: unplanned intubation, PE,
stroke, coma >24h, acute renal failure, MI,
cardiac arrest, sepsis/septic shock, blood
transfusions, or death
– Wound-related complications: superficial and
deep surgical site infections, organ space
infections, and wound dehiscence
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
METHODS
Statistical Analysis
• Use of preoperative testing described
• Chi-square to compare categorical variables and
T-test to compare continuous variables
• Multivariate logistic regression models used to
determine:
– Factors associated with preoperative testing
– Association between
• Preoperative testing and 30-day outcomes
• Abnormal results and 30-day outcomes
RESULTS
Demographics and Procedures
NO LABS
(N=26,619)
36%
LABS
(N=46,977)
64%
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS
Age
48.6 ± 16.0 yrs 57.7 ± 15.9 yrs
Male gender
84.3%
84.4%
White
82.7%
79.5%
ASA Class 3
11.4%
26.0%
At least 1 comorbidity
56.6%
71.1%
PROCEDURE DETAILS
General anesthesia
76.1%
78.1%
72.6%
74.5%
Inguinal hernia
Laparoscopic repair
17.3%
18.4%
Recurrent hernia
6.7%
7.3%
P-value
<0.0001
0.66
<0.0001
<0.0001
<0.0001
<0.0001
<0.0001
0.0002
0.001
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
RESULTS
Preoperative Testing Use
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
RESULTS
Preoperative Testing Use
OVERALL COHORT (N=73,596)
% Use
% Abnormal
Any Test
63.8%
61.6%
Hematology
58.6%
39.3%
Chemistry
53.5%
40.2%
Coagulation
18.7%
11.3%
LFT
23.7%
22.8%
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
RESULTS
Preoperative Testing Use
SUBGROUP WITHOUT COMORBIDITIES
N=25,146 (34% of overall cohort)
% Use
% Abnormal
Any test
54.0%
54.1%
Hematology
51.8%
36.2%
Chemistry
41.8%
33.0%
Coagulation
14.8%
5.9%
LFT
19.6%
18.4%
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
RESULTS
Preoperative Testing Use
SAME-DAY TESTING
N=7,209 (9.7% of overall cohort)
% Use
% Abnormal
Any Test
100.0%
61.6%
Hematology
86.0%
41.9%
Chemistry
76.5%
40.9%
Coagulation
35.4%
22.9%
LFT
25.8%
33.2%
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
RESULTS
Preoperative Testing Use
Age group
All patients
Younger than 20y
21y – 30y
31y – 40y
41y – 50y
51y – 60y
61y – 70y
71y – 80y
Older than 81y
34.9%
42.1%
47.9%
56.5%
66.2%
73.8%
79.5%
83.2%
Without
comorbidities
33.5%
40.0%
43.7%
49.9%
58.5%
66.3%
71.8%
75.0%
RESULTS
Multivariate Analysis: Factors Predicting Testing
• Factors associated with receipt of testing across all test
types:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Increased age
Black or Hispanic race
ASA class 2 and 3
Receipt of general anesthesia
Laparoscopic procedures
Hypertension
Diabetes
Ascites
Bleeding disorders
Steroid use
RESULTS
Adverse Outcomes and Testing
• Major complications: 0.3% (N=239)
• Wound complications: 0.8% (N=567)
Major Complications
OR
95% CI
OVERALL COHORT
Wound-Related
OR
95% CI
Hematology
1.17
(0.88 – 1.56)
0.99
(0.83 – 1.18)
Chemistry
1.30
(0.97 – 1.75)
1.03
(0.87 – 1.24)
Coagulation
1.25
(0.93 – 1.67)
1.05
(0.84 – 1.30)
LFT
1.02
(0.77 – 1.36)
1.07
(0.88 – 1.30)
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
RESULTS
Adjusted Outcomes: Tested vs. Not Tested
Major Complications
Wound-Related
OR
95% CI
OR
95% CI
SUBGROUP WITHOUT COMORBIDITIES
Hematology
0.77
(0.40 – 1.49)
1.36
(0.91 – 2.03)
Chemistry
1.00
(0.52 – 1.96)
1.35
(0.91 – 2.02)
Coagulation
1.38
(0.63 – 3.05)
1.04
(0.60 – 1.78)
LFT
0.94
(0.42 – 2.08)
1.07
(0.66 – 1.75)
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
RESULTS
Adjusted Outcomes: Abnormal vs. Normal Tests
Major
Wound-related
OR
95% CI
OR
95% CI
ABNORMAL vs. NORMAL (Tested patients only)
Hematology
1.29
(0.95 – 1.75)
0.96
(0.76 – 1.20)
Chemistry
1.28
(0.93 – 1.75)
1.15
(0.90 – 1.46)
Coagulation
1.52
(0.81 – 2.53)
1.16
(0.66 – 2.08)
LFT
1.50
(0.90 – 2.49)
1.14
(0.79 – 1.65)
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
LIMITATIONS
• Selection bias
• Unable to identify patients who had changes in
planned surgery or repeat testing due to abnormal
results
• NSQIP does not report all tests types
• Unable to identify ordering physician nor can we
evaluate variation among providers
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
MEDICARE TESTING RATES
HERNIA REPAIR
Test
All patients
(N=13,029)
No comorbidities
(N=3,187)
Any test
84.5%
78.9%
CXR
EKG
43.5%
38.1%
62.0%
59.5%
Hg/Hematocrit
53.1%
51.8%
49.6%
48.3%
Creatinine
Electrolytes
27.0%
23.2%
53.6%
48.2%
LFTs
35.2%
16.2%
30.9%
9.2%
Platelets
Coagulation
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
MEDICARE TESTING RATES
ARTHROSCOPY
Test
All patients
(N=21,993)
No comorbidities
(N=5,515)
Any test
81.2%
73.4%
CXR
EKG
41.0%
34.9%
57.6%
51.0%
Hg/Hematocrit
57.3%
54.1%
49.1%
46.0%
Creatinine
Electrolytes
29.9%
24.9%
60.6%
50.4%
LFTs
35.9%
18.8%
27.9%
12.4%
Platelets
Coagulation
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
MEDICARE: VARIATION IN TESTING
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
MEDICARE: GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
SUMMARY
• Preoperative testing is overused
• Increased age was associated with increased
rates of preoperative testing irrespective of
presence of comorbidities
• Overuse of preoperative testing is not only limited
to laboratory tests but include chest x-ray and
EKG, both mostly used in the elderly
• Neither preoperative testing nor abnormal results
were associated with worse outcomes
Preoperative Testing in Ambulatory Surgery
CONCLUSIONS
• Future studies must evaluate the comparative
effectiveness of testing for specific age groups
• Clear guidelines need to be developed for testing
in the elderly
• Goals:
– Decrease unnecessary testing
– Decrease cost
• In order to succeed physician awareness must be
increase and all parties must be willing to
participate