Edwards Lifesciences Corporation the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring, announced the publication in Critical Care of an analysis on the clinical and economic impacts of post-surgical complications in patients undergoing major surgery. The study highlights the significant increase in costs to U.S. institutions resulting from post-surgical complications and suggests potential cost savings with the implementation of perioperative goal-directed therapy (PGDT). 
The study, “Tackling the Economic Burden of Post-Surgical Complications: Would Perioperative Goal-Directed Fluid Therapy Help?”, found that in 75,140 patients in 2011 who underwent one of 10 major abdominal, orthopedic, vascular or urologic surgeries, post-surgical complications increased hospital costs by 172 percent. The study also suggests that the use/implementation of PGDT may potentially result in gross cost savings of $43 million to $73 million per year for the study population, or $569-$970 per patient.
“Perioperative goal-directed fluid therapy has been shown to decrease post surgical complications and our study gives an estimate of potential related savings,” said lead study author Dr. Gerard Manecke, M.D., professor, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, UCSD Medical Center. “Adopting PGDT can make a difference for patients and hospitals by helping to standardize fluid management, enhance surgical recovery, and decrease unnecessary costs.”
PGDT is a general term referring to targeted hemodynamic and fluid management using parameters such as stroke volume, cardiac output, and/or oxygen delivery, in conjunction with standard vital signs in managing patients during and immediately after surgery. Edwards offers an Enhanced Surgical Recovery Program (ESR) to help hospitals implement PGDT. Multiple studies have shown decreased complications in major surgery when PGDT is usedand it is now recommended in several countries.
The study was co-authored by Gerard R. Manecke, M.D., professor, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, UCSD Medical Center, Angela Asemota, M.S., University of California San Diego School of Medicine, and Frederic Michard, M.D., Ph.D., vice president, global medical strategy, critical care, Edwards Lifesciences. Dr. Manecke is also a paid consultant for Edwards.
For more information, go to: www.edwards.com.
