Are "Free Flaps" "Free" Flaps?
Journal
Journal of reconstructive microsurgery
ISSN: 1098-8947
Titre abrégé: J Reconstr Microsurg
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 8502670
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
May 2022
May 2022
Historique:
pubmed:
18
8
2021
medline:
15
6
2022
entrez:
17
8
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Even standard microvascular tissue transfers are time consuming, require great skill and intensity, and can be stressful. Not surprisingly, work-related relative value units are considered by many microsurgeons to be suboptimal. Some might even say that "free flaps" indeed really are "free" flaps. A retrospective review of related finances was undertaken for all free flaps performed in a single surgeon private practice during the latest possible year (2014) that included a complete 5-year follow-up to insure receipt of all expected reimbursements from accounts receivable. There were 61 free flaps available; but arbitrarily 12 free flaps were excluded since postmastectomy breast reconstruction always received mandatory insurance payment, as were additional two cases done pro bono as part of an international educational service. This left 47 free flaps to permit determination of gross payments, if any. Compensation summated for three distinct time intervals for all free flaps was A true benefit cost-analysis even if microsurgery specific expenses could be estimated would be inaccurate, so that mean net income for each free flap could not be determined. Albeit a minimal gross payment was obtained for some free flap procedures, in no instance was there
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Even standard microvascular tissue transfers are time consuming, require great skill and intensity, and can be stressful. Not surprisingly, work-related relative value units are considered by many microsurgeons to be suboptimal. Some might even say that "free flaps" indeed really are "free" flaps.
METHODS
METHODS
A retrospective review of related finances was undertaken for all free flaps performed in a single surgeon private practice during the latest possible year (2014) that included a complete 5-year follow-up to insure receipt of all expected reimbursements from accounts receivable. There were 61 free flaps available; but arbitrarily 12 free flaps were excluded since postmastectomy breast reconstruction always received mandatory insurance payment, as were additional two cases done pro bono as part of an international educational service. This left 47 free flaps to permit determination of gross payments, if any.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Compensation summated for three distinct time intervals for all free flaps was
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
A true benefit cost-analysis even if microsurgery specific expenses could be estimated would be inaccurate, so that mean net income for each free flap could not be determined. Albeit a minimal gross payment was obtained for some free flap procedures, in no instance was there
Identifiants
pubmed: 34404101
doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1732429
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
292-295Informations de copyright
Thieme. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
None declared.