Resource Use
The principal differences in resource use were expected to be related to theater equipment, staff mix in the theater, length of theater time, and length of ward stay. Further differences were considered in terms of intensive care, high-dependency care, units of blood transfused, family physician attendances, emergency department attendances, and readmissions. Data were available via case report forms from the iROC trial and relate to the period from admission to the theater suite. Length of stay was calculated as the number of separate days on which a patient was present in hospital.