Changing practices in septorhinoplasty: the Irish experience

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Plastic Surgery
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Septorhinoplasty (SR) is a complex elective procedure impacting patient quality of life.
• Single-payer systems face capacity challenges from acute and oncological demands, potentially affecting elective surgeries.
• Understanding national trends in SR is crucial for healthcare planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review national trends in septorhinoplasty (SR) practice in Ireland.
• To inform future healthcare planning within a single-payer system.
• To analyze the impact of healthcare pressures on elective surgical procedures.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal, population-based, cross-sectional study of 1952 SR cases in Ireland from 2005-2021.
• Time-series analysis using linear regression to assess trends in operation type, revision rates, and length of stay.
• Analysis of the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and national surgical guidelines.

Main Results:

• Annual mean SR cases decreased by 31% (real terms) and 43% (relative terms).
• Ambulatory SR increased significantly, comprising 55% of all cases performed.
• Mean hospital length of stay decreased by 44%.

Conclusions:

• Septorhinoplasty faces challenges in Ireland's public healthcare system.
• The rise of ambulatory surgery and reduced hospital stays demonstrate adaptive responses to healthcare pressures.
• These practice changes suggest a positive adaptation to system-wide constraints.