Cost-effectiveness of mini-laparotomy in patients with colorectal cancers: A propensity scoring matching approach

Abdominal wound length influences the postoperative serum level of interleukin-6 and recovery of flatus passage among patients with colorectal cancer

INTRODUCTION

A mini-laparotomy for colorectal cancer (CRC) has been reported to shorten postoperative ileus (POI) and hospital stay. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a role in intestinal tissue inflammation, leading to POI. This study investigated the effects of abdominal wounds and IL-6 levels on POI in patients having CRC surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-three patients with CRC underwent bowel resection. Serum samples were collected preoperatively and at 2, 24, and 48 h after surgery for cytokine quantification by ELISA. Clinical data, including time from surgery to first passage of flatus and postoperative hospital stay, demographic and pathological data, and routine blood tests, were compared statistically with abdominal wound length and the postoperative increments of cytokines (designated as Δ).

RESULTS

The length of the abdominal wound showed a significant correlation with clinical variables (length of operation time, time of first flatus passage, and length of postoperative hospital stay) and cytokine variables (IL-6(Δ2 h), IL-8(Δ2 h) and IL-10(Δ2 h). Linear regression analysis showed that the abdominal wound length significantly influenced the operation time, time of first flatus passage, and length of postoperative hospital stay (p < 0.001). The length of the abdominal wound showed a significant influence on the IL-6(Δ2 h) and IL-8(Δ2 h) (p < 0.001, respectively) but no influence on IL-10(Δ2 h). IL-6(Δ2 h), but not IL-8(Δ2 h), significantly influenced the time to first flatus passage and length of hospital stay (p = 0.007, p = 0.006, respectively). The mini-laparotomy approach (wound length <7 cm) led to significantly shortened operation time, time of first flatus passage, length of postoperative stay (p = 0.004, p = 0.003, p = 0.006, respectively) as well as reduced postoperative increment of IL-6(Δ2 h) (p = 0.015). The mini-laparotomy for anterior resection surgery significantly influenced operation time, time of first passage of flatus, length of postoperative stay, and IL-6(Δ2 h).

CONCLUSION

Our study is the first to report the complex interaction among the length of the abdominal wound, IL-6 serum level, recovery of the first passage of flatus, and postoperative hospital stay. These results suggest that smaller abdominal wounds and smaller postoperative IL-6 increments were associated with faster recovery of flatus passage and shorter hospital stays.

Research on diagnosis-related group grouping of inpatient medical expenditure in colorectal cancer patients based on a decision tree model

BACKGROUND

In 2018, the diagnosis-related groups prospective payment system (DRGs-PPS) was introduced in a trial operation in Beijing according to the requirements of medical and health reform. The implementation of the system requires that more than 300 disease types pay through the DRGs-PPS for medical insurance. Colorectal cancer (CRC), as a common malignant tumor with high prevalence in recent years, was among the 300 disease types.

AIM

To investigate the composition and factors related to inpatient medical expenditure in CRC patients based on disease DRGs, and to provide a basis for the rational economic control of hospitalization expenses for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.

METHODS

The basic material and cost data for 1026 CRC inpatients in a Grade-A tertiary hospital in Beijing during 2014-2018 were collected using the medical record system. A variance analysis of the composition of medical expenditure was carried out, and a multivariate linear regression model was used to select influencing factors with the greatest statistical significance. A decision tree model based on the exhaustive χ² automatic interaction detector (E-CHAID) algorithm for DRG grouping was built by setting chosen factors as separation nodes, and the payment standard of each diagnostic group and upper limit cost were calculated. The correctness and rationality of the data were re-evaluated and verified by clinical practice.

RESULTS

The average hospital stay of the 1026 CRC patients investigated was 18.5 d, and the average hospitalization cost was 57872.4 RMB yuan. Factors including age, gender, length of hospital stay, diagnosis and treatment, as well as clinical operations had significant influence on inpatient expenditure (P < 0.05). By adopting age, diagnosis, treatment, and surgery as the grouping nodes, a decision tree model based on the E-CHAID algorithm was established, and the CRC patients were divided into 12 DRG cost groups. Among these 12 groups, the number of patients aged ≤ 67 years, and underwent surgery and chemotherapy or radiotherapy was largest; while patients aged > 67 years, and underwent surgery and chemotherapy or radiotherapy had the highest medical cost. In addition, the standard cost and upper limit cost in the 12 groups were calculated and re-evaluated.

CONCLUSION

It is important to strengthen the control over the use of drugs and management of the hospitalization process, surgery, diagnosis and treatment to reduce the economic burden on patients. Tailored adjustments to medical payment standards should be made according to the characteristics and treatment of disease types to improve the comprehensiveness and practicability of the DRGs-PPS.