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Health care delivery, economics and global health care
Original research article
Day case complex devices: the state of the UK
  1. Michael Waight1,
  2. Abdula Elawady1,
  3. Heather Gage2,
  4. Morro Touray2 and
  5. Shaumik Adhya1
  1. 1Cardiology, Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, UK
  2. 2Department of Health Economics, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Michael Waight; michaelwaight{at}nhs.net

Abstract

Objective Complex cardiac devices including implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) devices can safely be implanted as a day case procedure as opposed to overnight stay. We assess how common day case complex device therapy is and the cost implications of more widespread adoption across the UK.

Methods A freedom of information request was sent to all centres performing complex cardiac devices across the UK to assess the adoption of this technique. Cost implications were assessed using Department of Health National Schedule of Reference Costs 2016–2017.

Results 100 UK centres were surveyed, 80% replied. Eighty per cent of UK centres already implant complex cardiac devices as a day case to some extent. 64.06% of centres have a protocol for this. 12.82% of centres do <25% of complex devices as a day case. 15.38% do 25%–50% as day case. 17.95% do 50%–75% as day case and 33.33% do >75% as day case. There was no relationship between centre volume and the proportion of devices done as a day case as opposed to overnight stay. The cost saving of performing a complex device as a day case as opposed to overnight stay was £412 per ICD, £525 per CRT-pacemaker and £2169 per CRT-defibrillator.

Conclusions Day case complex devices are already widespread across the UK, however, there is scope for increase. An increase in proportion of day case devices could translate to £5 583 265 in savings annually for the National Health Service if all centres performed 75% of devices as a day case.

  • cardiology
  • hospital economics
  • complex cardiac devices
  • day case procedures

This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/openhrt-2019-001023

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    Key questions

    What is already known about this subject?

    • Day case complex cardiac devices have been shown to be safe and are associated with increased patient satisfaction compared with overnight stay. Other medical fields have demonstrated cost savings when moving from overnight stay procedures to day case. Single-centre studies demonstrate that complex cardiac devices are already being implanted in some centres.

    What does this study add?

    • This study demonstrates that the majority of hospitals already implant complex cardiac devices as a day case to some extent. However, less than half of all patients having a complex cardiac device currently have this done as a day case procedure. There are significant cost savings to be made if a higher proportion of complex cardiac devices were implanted as a day case.

    How might this impact on clinical practice?

    • This sheds light on the current state of clinical practice in the UK and provides impetus to those centres which do not yet implant these devices as a day case. This study may encourage more day case procedures to be undertaken due to the resulting cost savings of up to £2169 per device compared with overnight stay.

    Introduction

    Simple permanent pacemakers have been implanted as day case procedures since the early 1980s,1 with the first UK day case pacemaker being performed in 1989.2 Cost benefit studies have shown savings with same-day discharge compared with traditional overnight stay of between £203 and £430 per patient3 4. More recently, various centres have reported success in performing complex cardiac devices including implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) as day cases, including improvements in patient satisfaction5 without compromising safety.5–8 These recent studies suggest that same-day discharge is becoming more widespread and increasingly seen as the standard of care, even though it is not advocated in the current guidelines on complex cardiac devices. Here, we assess the situation across the UK with regard to same-day discharge following complex cardiac device insertion and examine the cost implications if these were to become routine practice across the country.

    Methods

    In order to assess the current UK-wide practice for complex cardiac device insertion, a list of all UK centres which implant cardiac devices was generated from the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR) National Audit of Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices9 from 2015 to 2016. This includes both National Health Service (NHS) and private centres. Centres that do not implant complex devices, or those that implant less than 20 complex devices per year as well as paediatric centres, were excluded. A survey was sent to all remaining UK centres which perform complex cardiac devices as per the Freedom of Information Act, 2000.

    The survey was comprised of the following questions:

    1. Does your hospital perform complex cardiac devices as a day case procedure? This includes ICD, CRT-pacemaker and defibrillator (CRT-P and CRT-D).

    2. If so, do you have a trust protocol for this procedure?

    3. What proportion of complex pacing is done as day case as compared with overnight stay: <25% day case, 25%–50% day case, 50%–75% day case or >75% day case?

    We assessed the costs of implanting each of the three different devices (ICD, CRT-P and CRT-D) when performed as both day case as well as with an inpatient stay. These data were obtained by using the Department of Health National Schedule of Reference Costs 2016–2017.10 We opted for this as it is a more representative estimation of the true cost of the procedures to the NHS, rather than a tariff, which would be the amount paid to a trust by the government on insertion of a device. The reference cost data give an upper and lower quartile price as well as the national average. We used the national average in all cases. This data allowed us to compare the cost difference between an inpatient stay and a day case procedure. Statistical analysis of differences between responses was assessed using the χ2 test.

    Results

    Of the 198 centres identified from the NICOR audit, 64 were excluded as they do not perform complex cardiac devices (n=60) or were paediatric centres (n=4). A further 34 centres were excluded as they implant less than 20 complex cardiac devices per year. We sent the survey to the remaining 100 centres. Of these 100 centres, the number of complex devices inserted per year ranged from 20 to 639 with a mean of 135. The centres are shown below in by volume according to the NICOR audit as well as their responses to our survey (figure 1).9

    Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Number of devices implanted by the centres we surveyed per year as of APRIL 2015 to March 2016 and their respective responses to FOI survey. Data from NICOR audit 2016.9 FOI, freedom of information.

    Of the surveyed centres, we received responses to the freedom of information (FOI) requests from 80 (80%) of the 100 centres. Sixty-four centres (64%) stated that they already implant complex cardiac devices as a day case: 41 (41%) centres perform complex pacing as a day case and have a protocol for the procedure as part of the trust policy. Twenty-three (23%) centres perform complex pacing as day case but do not have a protocol for this (figure 2).

    Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Proportion of centres which responded to FOI Request, and how many perform complex pacing as a day case and have a protocol. FOI, freedom of information.

    When asked what proportion of their complex devices are done as a day case as compared with overnight stay, two centres were unable to give this information. These were excluded for further evaluation. The proportion of complex devices done as a day case from the remaining centres was as follows. Sixteen centres (20.51%) do not perform any complex devices as a day case. Ten centres (12.82%) do <25% as day case. Twelve centres (15.38%) do 25%–50% as day case. Fourteen centres (17.95%) do 50%–75% as day case and 26 centres (33.33%) do >75% as day case (figure 3)

    Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Proportion of complex devices done as day case.

    We analysed the total number complex devices that these respective quintiles implant per year; those doing <25% as day case implant 1492. Those doing 25%–50% implant 1922. Those doing 50%–75% implant 2316 and those doing >75% as day case implant 3582 per year. Additionally, those centres which do not do any complex devices as a day case amount to 2158 devices per year (figure 4).

    Figure 4
    Figure 4

    Total number of complex devices inserted per year by proportion done as day case.

    To investigate the relationship between centre volume and the proportion of devices implanted as a day case, we divided the centres into quartiles by number of complex devices inserted annually—Q1 (<50 devices per year), Q2 (51–93 devices per year), Q3 (94–193 devices per year) and Q4 (>193 devices per year). The results of this are demonstrated below in figure 5. There was no difference in proportion of day case devices versus overnight devices between the different volume centres.

    Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Proportion of devices inserted as day case by volume of centre.

    Although not included in the questionnaire, three centres were able to give a breakdown of the proportion of each complex device (ICD, CRT-P and CRT-D) which are implanted as a day case. On average, 75% of ICDs, 30% of CRT-P devices and 25% of CRT-D devices are implanted as a day case in these centres (figure 6).

    Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Proportion of each type of complex device inserted as a day case (n=3). CRT-D, cardiac resynchronisation therapy-defibrillator; CRT-P, cardiac resynchronisation therapy-pacemaker; ICD, implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

    We looked at the cost difference between complex cardiac devices which are inserted as a day case as compared with an overnight stay. Table 1 demonstrates the national reference costs for these, including ICD, CRT-P and CRT-D.10 The saving associated with a day case procedure as opposed to an overnight stay is demonstrated on the right of the table.

    View this table:
    Table 1

    Costs of implanting complex devices as day case, overnight stay and day case saving10

    Discussion

    As a practice, day case complex cardiac devices are already widespread across the UK, but to varying degrees. Eighty per cent of centres which responded to our FOI request already perform day case complex cardiac devices to some extent. Where centres do perform complex devices as a day case, there is a trend towards doing a high proportion of all devices as a day case rather than an overnight stay. However, based on responses, as a total proportion of all complex devices inserted in the UK, less than half are currently being implanted as a day case. There does not seem to be any relationship between the volume of complex devices inserted annually and the proportion which are done as a day case, that is, high volume centres do not particularly seem to be performing a large number of day case procedures.

    There are great potential savings to be made in switching from overnight procedures to day case. This has been demonstrated in many fields of medical practice, with a strong evidence base, particularly in the surgical specialties.11–13 Day case complex cardiac devices can save between £412 (for ICD) and £2169 (CRT-D) per device. From our data, we can estimate the total proportion of complex devices which are implanted as a day case in the UK from the centres surveyed. Assuming that each centre does half the quartile range as a day case procedure (ie, 12.5% for those doing <25% as day case, 37.5% for those doing 25%–50%, etc), 47.86% of all complex cardiac devices are being inserted as a day case annually in the UK. Every year the European Heart Rhythm Association produces a document called ‘The White Book’ which surveys and records the total number of complex cardiac devices inserted annually in each European Society of Cardiology member country.14 In the UK, in 2016, there were 7242 ICD insertions, 4318 CRT-P insertions and 7063 CRT-D insertions in total,14 making a total of 18 623 complex devices inserted per year. If the proportion of devices being implanted as a day case increased from the current 47.86% so that each centre was achieving the highest quartile (75% as day case), then this would change the total number of devices being inserted as a day case from 8913 to 13 967 or an extra 5054 devices per year. Given the current split between the three complex devices, this would equate to a saving of £5 583 265 per year across the UK (table 2). It would likely also improve the patient experience and freeing up beds for other patients.

    View this table:
    Table 2

    Projected cost savings by increasing day case procedures from current projection (47.86%) to 75%10 15

    This study has some limitations which should be addressed in combination with its conclusions. We used an FOI request to gain data around the current state of day case complex devices across the UK at present. This limited the detail of the questions asked in order to reduce the time centres required to formulate a response. Furthermore, there was a significant non-response rate. Non-responders were contacted at serial points throughout the study and the final non-responder rate was 20%. Non-responding centres did not appear to be different from responders in terms of volume of complex devices done per year, therefore, this is unlikely to be a major factor.

    The data include feedback from private hospitals, which were not obliged to respond to the FOI request and also are not reimbursed in the same way that the NHS centres are, therefore, our results are only applicable to the NHS. Also, there is inherent error in assuming the midpoint of the quartile range to estimate the number of devices implanted as a day case per year. Another issue is the limited feedback on the split between ICD, CRT-P and CRT-D as daycase procedures. A small number of centres were able to give us this information and as expected, the greater the complexity of the procedure, the more likely it was to be done as an overnight stay with three quarters of ICDs but only one-quarter of CRT-D devices being inserted as a day case procedure. It is possible that if certain centres implant more ICDs compared with CRT devices, this may partly explain the discrepancy in day case proportions between centres.

    Potential barriers to more widespread application of day case complex cardiac devices include the following. Some cardiologists may feel that a day case complex device is less safe than when a patient can be observed overnight or associated with a higher readmission rate. This has been shown not to be the case with several papers demonstrating no increase in complications with same-day discharge of patients having complex cardiac devices over a 6-week follow-up period.5 15 These papers are single-centre experiences, however, it is difficult to envisage how complication rates would vary significantly across the country. Some patients may not like the idea of being discharged after a complex procedure such as a CRT-D. However, it has been shown that same-day discharge following CRT is associated with higher satisfaction from patients compared with overnight stay.5

    Widespread adoption of day case as the standard of care for insertion of complex devices will have implications of list organisation and will require a defined protocol in order to ensure patient safety and efficiency. In our study, 66% of centres performing day case complex devices had a protocol. We received an example protocol from three of the surveyed hospitals. There was discrepancy between these protocols in terms of the timing of the postimplant chest X-ray and device check and also the duration of observation prior to discharge—varying from 90 min to 4 hours postprocedure. An example of the protocol created at our trust is included in supplement A. Predischarge protocol includes a device check as well as a chest X-ray to assess lead position and, in the case of axillary or subclavian access, exclusion of pneumothorax. These need to be performed in time for them to be appropriately checked and the patient discharged. This means that it is likely that patients undergoing day case complex devices will need to be done earlier in the day than had they been planned for an overnight stay. A potential solution to this is using cephalic-only access as has been reported to be safe and effective.16 17

    On the whole, overcoming these barriers is a surmountable challenge that should lead to both clinical and financial benefit in the field of complex devices.

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors MW: primary data collector, data analyser and author. Responsible for overall content. AE: secondary data collector and data analyser. MT: support with health economics data and calculation of cost savings. HG: support with health economics data and calculation of cost savings. SA: project instigator and supervisor. Edited manuscript and assisted with conclusions. Responsible for overall content.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Data availability statement No additional data are available.