Costs of complications following rectal resection surgery

Interventions: ICD Codes that were included were:
32026-00 Ultra low anterior resection of rectum
32024-00 High anterior resection of rectum
32030-00 Rectosigmoidectomy with formation of stoma
32028-00 Ultra low anterior resection of rectum with hand sutured coloanal anastomosis
32030-01 Laparoscopic rectosigmoidectomy with formation of stoma
32051-00 Total proctocolectomy with ileo-anal anastomosis
32039-00 Abdominoperineal proctectomy
32025-00 Low anterior resection of rectum
92208-00 Anterior resection of rectum, level unspecified
32015-00 Total proctocolectomy with ileostomy
32051-01 Total proctocolectomy with ileo-anal anastomosis and formation of temporary ileostomy
32112-00 Perineal rectosigmoidectomy
32047-00 Perineal proctectomy
The procedures were performed at the Austin Hospital, a tertiary hospital with colorectal expertise, over the period of January 2013 and June 2018. Patients were followed-up for 30 days following discharge from the index admission. If no subsequent readmissions occurred within this period, follow-up ceased. If a patient was readmitted within the 30-day period, then the readmission was included, and following discharge from the readmission or end of the original 30-day period, whichever was later, follow-up ceased.
Primary outcome(s): Costs of complications as a composite outcome defined as cost of patients with complications less the cost of patients without complications (i.e. by comparison of patients with and without complications).
All costs related to the index admission for rectal resection and any consequent readmissions are included. Costs related to preoperative course are not considered. Allocation of costs will be done based on service volume, and costs calculated using an activity-based costing methodology. Only in-hospital costs are considered, with both direct and indirect costs assessed to produce a total cost for each patient. Costs for each patient will be obtained from the Austin Health Department of Finance, which maintain an itemised prospective database of all hospital expenses related to each patient.[Costs will be calculated from day of surgery to hospital discharge. Readmissions are considered within 30 days of discharge from the index admission.]
Study Design: Purpose: Natural history;Duration: Longitudinal;Selection: Defined population;Timing: Retrospective