Impact in Surgery

Why Use in Surgery?

Post-operative infections are an all too common occurrence and are expensive to treat, particularly in patients undergoing high-risk procedures. On average, 6-11% of all surgery patients develop some type of post-operative infection 1-2. Certain surgical procedures, however, carry an even higher risk for infection. In a study of gastrointestinal cancer surgery patients, 30% developed a post-operative infection, while in a study of elderly cardiac surgery patients, the infection rate was 55%. 3-4 (Braga et al., 2002; Tepaske et al., 2001)

In these high-risk surgical populations, the use of IMPACT® has been shown to reduce the risk for infection.

Gianotti trial grah Braga trial grah Tepaske trial graph

Reductions in the risk of infection are associated with reductions in hospital length of stay.

Length of stay graph

Reduction in length of hospital stay is associated with a reduction in the cost of patient care. Several investigators have published economic analyses illustrating that the use of IMPACT® can translate to substantial cost savings. 5-8 Strickland et al.8 applied published clinical outcomes data to length of stay and hospital cost data from a national U.S. database to determine the potential economic benefit associated with the use of specialized nutritional formulations (IMPACT®). The analysis included several patient populations, including major elective surgical patients. Results showed that for surgical patients, the use of IMPACT® can lead to a per-patient cost savings of $688, assuming a base infection rate of 5%. This number ($688) multiplied by the annual number of surgical patients receiving nutritional support in the US represents the total expected savings (ex. $688 x 500 patients = $344,000) Expected cost savings vary markedly for deviations in base infection rate. The investigators concluded that specialized nutritional support is a cost-effective way for hospitals to improve clinical outcomes while reducing resource consumption and total costs.

To request more information on the economic benefits of IMPACT®, click here.

References

  1. Fernandez AH, Monge V, Garcinuno MA. 2001. Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis: Effect in Postoperative Infections. European Journal of Epidemiology; 17(4): 369-74.
  2. Plowman R, Graves N, Griffin MAS, Roberts JA, et al. 2001. The Rate and Cost of Hospital-acquired Infections Occurring in Patients Admitted to Selected Specialties of a District General Hospital in England and the National Burden Imposed. Journal of Hospital Infection; 47: 198-209.
  3. Gianotti L, Braga M, Nespoli L, Radaelli G, Beneduce A, Di Carlo V. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Preoperative Oral Supplementation with a Specialized Diet in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer. Gastroenterology. 2002; 122:1763-1770.
  4. Tepaske R, Velthuis H, Oudemans-van Straaten HM, Heisterkamp, SH, van Deventer SJ, Ince C, et al. Effect of Preoperative Oral Immune-enhancing Nutritional Supplement on Patients at High Risk of Infection after Cardiac Surgery: A Randomised Placebo-controlled Trial. Lancet. 2001;358:696-701.
  5. Shulkin DJ, Kinosian B, Glick H, Glen-Pushett C, et al. 1993. The Economic Impact® of Infections: An Analysis of Hospital Costs and Charges in Surgical Patients with Cancer. Archives of Surgery; 128(4): 449-52.
  6. Braga M and Gianotti L. Preoperative Immunonutrition: Cost-Benefit Analysis. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 2005;29:S57-S61.
  7. Farber MS et al. Reducing Costs and Patient Morbidity in the Enterally Fed Intensive Care Unit Patient. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 2005;29:S62-S69.
  8. Strickland A, Brogan A, Krauss J, Martindale R, Cresci G. 2004. Is the Use of Specialized Nutritional Formulations a Cost Effective Strategy? A National Database Evaluation. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 2005;29:S81-S91.