Background There is no specific recommendation regarding the type of anaesthesia in hip fracture surgery. Objectives This study sought to examine the current local anaesthetic practice (general anaesthesia versus regional anaesthesia (RA)) in hip fracture surgery and to analyse their associations with perioperative outcomes. Methodology A retrospective observational study of hip fracture patients from April to December 2017 was undertaken. Patient characteristics and perioperative outcomes were analysed against the types of anaesthesia using multiple logistic regression. Results One hundred and twelve out of 154 patients (72.7%) had a general anaesthesia. Patients from residential care facilities were more likely to receive general anaesthesia (OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1, 7.4; P = 0.03). There was no significant association between type of anaesthesia and specific postoperative outcomes; however, patients with postoperative delirium and hypotension were more likely to have received general anaesthesia [OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 0.68, 4.38; P = 0.25] and [OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 0.67, 4.04; P = 0.27] respectively). Subgroup analysis showed increased length of stay with patients who underwent general anaesthesia (OR = 1.26, 95% CI:1.04, 1.54; P = 0.02). Conclusion Regional anaesthesia may be considered in patients without contraindications in view of increased risk of postoperative delirium and hypotension, and longer length of stay with general anaesthesia. A larger prospective study is needed to confirm these findings.

ObjectivesBlood tests for endocrinological derangements are frequently requested in general medical inpatients, in particular those in the older age group. Interrogation of these tests may present opportunities for healthcare savings.MethodsThis multicentre retrospective study over a 2.5‐year period examined the frequency with which three common endocrinological investigations [thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), HbA1c, 25‐hydroxy Vitamin D3] were performed in this population, including the frequency of duplicate tests within a given admission, and the frequency of abnormal test results. The Medicare Benefits Schedule was used to calculate the cost associated with these tests.ResultsThere were 28,564 individual admissions included in the study. Individuals ≥65 years old were the majority of inpatients in whom the selected tests were performed (80% of tests). TSH was performed in 6730 admissions, HbA1c was performed in 2259 admissions, and vitamin D levels were performed in 5632 admissions. There were 6114 vitamin D tests performed during the study period, of which 2911 (48%) returned outside the normal range. The cost associated with vitamin D level testing was $183,726. Over the study period, 8% of tests for TSH, HbA1c, and Vitamin D were duplicates (where a second test was performed within a single admission), which was associated with a cost of $32,134.ConclusionsTests for common endocrinological abnormalities are associated with significant healthcare costs. Avenues by which future savings may be pursued include the investigation of strategies to reduce duplicate ordering and examining the rationale and guidelines associated with ordering tests such as vitamin D levels.