Nonvascular interventional procedures: analysis of a 10-year database containing more than 21,000 cases

To analyze all procedures performed during 10 years in a nonvascular interventional practice.

Date, organ location, and type of all 21,324 procedures performed between October 1990 and September 2000 were recorded in a database; also included were patient age and inpatient or outpatient status. Because genitourinary procedures were not included during the first 4 years, nephrostomies were added retrospectively. Yearly interventional caseload was compared with the department caseload and the assignment of new medical record numbers. Trends in individual procedure location and type were analyzed, as well as patient age, inpatient status, daily caseloads, and day of the week when the procedure was performed.

Caseloads have increased 10.8% per year, exceeding increases in radiology department and hospital activity. Abdomen, outside of a specific organ, was the most common location; catheter deployment was the most common procedure. Abscess drainage, placement of chest tubes, and nephrostomies have increased, but biliary drainages have decreased. Inpatients outnumbered outpatients in all years except 1995, but the trend was toward an increase in the proportion of outpatients. The average patient was 59.6 years old, with average age diminishing. Friday was the busiest day, but weekend procedures have increased.

Nonvascular interventional procedures have increased, with more currently being performed on weekends.