This section presents information on seven selected procedures of general interest. The tables for each procedure include the number of discharges by procedure and hospital, average length of stay (LOS), median LOS, the average total charges, and the median total charges. The top five diagnoses associated with each selected procedure are also included. Median LOS and total charges are also reported and represent the 50% percentile, rather than the average, LOS and total charges. Median figures may be more appropriate to consider when the number of cases is small and the data are skewed.

The two procedures dealing with gallbladder removal (51.22 and 51.23) show that the newer laparoscopic procedure is associated with shorter lengths of stay and lower cost compared with the classical approach. It is important to remember, however, that there may be compelling medical reasons for choosing one rather than the other. A similar comparison of the two hysterectomy procedures shows that vaginal hysterectomy (68.5) is associated with a shorter length of stay and slightly lower cost compared with abdominal hysterectomy (68.4). Again, there may be compelling medical reasons for choosing one rather than the other. The other three procedures chosen were appendectomy, and knee and hip replacement procedures.

These seven procedures are listed in the tables below with both the technical and a less technical description of the procedure.

Table V-1. Procedure 47.0 - Appendectomy
Table V-1A. The Top Five Principal Diagnoses Associated with Procedure 47.0
Table V-2. Procedure 51.22 - Cholecystectomy
Table V-2A. The Top Five Principal Diagnoses Associated with Procedure 51.22
Table V-3. Procedure 51.23 - Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Table V-3A. The Top Five Principal Diagnoses Associated with Procedure 51.23
Table V-4. Procedure 68.4 - Total Abdominal Hysterectomy
Table V-4A. The Top Five Principal Diagnoses Associated with Procedure 68.4
Table V-5. Procedure 68.5 - Vaginal Hysterectomy
Table V-5A. The Top Five Principal Diagnoses Associated with Procedure 68.5
Table V-6. Procedure 81.51 - Total Hip Replacement
Table V-6A. The Top Five Principal Diagnoses Associated with Procedure 81.51
Table V-7. Procedure 81.54 - Total Knee Replacement
Table V-7A. The Top Five Principal Diagnoses Associated with Procedure 81.54

Section I - Overviews
Section II - Heart Disease
Section III - Childbirth and Related Procedures
Section IV - Selected APR-DRGs of Interest
Section VI - Summaries

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