Effectiveness of a postoperative disposition protocol for sleep apnea surgery

Abstract Purpose 1) Evaluate the effectiveness of a postoperative disposition protocol for upper airway surgery in patients with sleep apnea. 2) Compare the cost-effectiveness of outpatient and overnight observational sleep apnea surgery versus surgical intensive care admission determined by preoperative screening criteria. Materials and methods A new preoperative protocol for sleep apnea surgery was instituted at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 2008 to triage patients undergoing sleep apnea surgery to one of three postoperative dispositions: intensive care, routine ward bed, or discharge home. An Institutional Review Board approved retrospective chart review of patients undergoing sleep apnea surgery between May 2008 and January 2012 was performed. Postoperative complications and cost comparisons were assessed between each of the three postoperative disposition groups. Results 115 patients underwent sleep apnea surgery between July 2008 and January 2012. 11 patients were excluded leaving 104 patients in the final analysis. Median follow-up was 1.25 months. Overall complication rate was 12.5%. Eight complications occurred in the group triaged to intensive care, and 5 occurred in those triaged to lesser levels of postoperative care. All serious complications occurred during the immediate postoperative period. Based on only room charges, $125,275 was saved over the 3.6 years of this study. Conclusion A post operative disposition protocol can be effectively used to triage patients to less than intensive postoperative care. In institutions like the Durham VA, where sleep apnea patients were routinely triaged to intensive care, postoperative resources will be more efficiently utilized.