Key Findings

How did Utah’s rate of laparoscopic gallbladder removal compare with the nation?

In general, laparoscopic gallbladder removal requires smaller incisions and results in quicker recovery for patients than open gallbladder removal. However, the doctor may start a laparoscopic surgery, find unanticipated problems and need to change to an open surgery. Other patients with known complex medical problems or history may require planned open surgery. In these cases, open surgery is not necessarily an indication of lower quality of care.

For laparoscopic gallbladder removal in 2006, Utah overall had a higher rate (83.5%) than similar adult inpatients nationwide (75.9%). Utah overall means all Utah health care facilities combined. Facilities include hospitals that treat inpatients and hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers that treat outpatients.
Measures used are in square brackets. For more details, see the Technical Document.

Among the 22 Utah facilities that treated 30 or more adult gallbladder removal inpatients in 2006:

1,808 (83.5%) of 2,164 inpatient gallbladder removals were laparoscopic [AHRQ IQI 23].
5,923 additional outpatient laparoscopic gallbladder removals were performed [ICD-9-CM procedure code 51.23].
95.6% (7,731 out of 8,087) of gallbladder removals among inpatients plus outpatients were laparoscopic.

When each Utah facility that performed at least 30 gallbladder removals is compared to similar inpatients nationwide in 2006:

17 facilities had a higher percentage of inpatient laparoscopic gallbladder removals.
5 additional facilities had a lower percentage. These facilities tend to treat inpatients with more complex gallbladder problems and medical history.

Note: that many factors can affect treatment for gallbladder problems at a particular facility. Read more in About the Data.

How did facility charges differ among Utah facilities?

Average facility charges among adults for the gallbladder removal procedures in this report differed widely in 2005 for inpatients and outpatients. Measures used are in parentheses. For more details, see the Technical Document.

$2,841 to $11,976 among 36 Utah facilities that reported charge for laparoscopic outpatients [ICD-9-CM procedure code 51.23].
$7,017 to $19,090 among 33 Utah facilities that reported charge for laparoscopic inpatients [APR-DRG 263] at the minor/moderate level of illness.

As expected, average facility charge for inpatients treated at the major/extreme level of illness was higher. In this report, outpatients are not grouped into two levels of illness.

Note: usually inpatients spend at least 24 hours in the facility. Outpatients usually spend less than 24 hours in the facility.

Many factors will affect facility charges. Read more in About the Data