Dave, Abhishek

Background: There is lack of data regarding impact of atherectomy on the length of stay (LOS) and cost of hospitalization in lower extremity arterial revascularization. Methods: HCUP’s Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2012 was queried using the ICD-9- CM code for peripheral vascular disease and procedural codes 39.90 (bare metal stent - BMS), 00.55 (drug eluting stent - DES), 17.56 (peripheral atherectomy) and 39.50 for angioplasty. Only procedures performed in patients ≥18 years of age were included. Hierarchical mixed effects linear regression models were generated to evaluate multivariate predictors of LOS and hospitalization costs. Results: A total of 13,206 (weighted: 66,030) lower extremity arterial revascularizations were identified (43.8% female & 65.5% white). Out of these, atherectomy was utilized in 23.2%. Atherectomy utilization was associated with significant reduction in LOS (4.96 ± 0.11 days vs. 5.78 ± 0.07 days, p <0.001) but higher hospitalization cost ($ 25196 ± 359 vs. $ 23408 ± 185, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed similar results with decrease in LOS (-0.71 days, -1.00 - - 0.43; p < 0.001) but higher hospitalization cost (+1875 $, +811 - +2940; p = 0.001) with atherectomy, which was matched by propensity score analysis. Additionally, emergent/urgent & weekend admissions and Charlson score ≥2 were further associated with increased LOS and hospitalization costs. (Figure) Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that atherectomy utilization is associated with significant reduction in length of stay, which was counterbalanced by a slight increase in hospitalization costs following lower extremity arterial revascularization.