Centralization and Oncologic Training Reduce Postoperative Morbidity and Failure-to-rescue Rates After Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Peritoneal Surface Malignancies: Study on a 10-year National French Practice.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate at a national level the postoperative mortality (POM), major morbidity (MM) and failure-to-rescue (FTR) after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) across time and according to hospital-volume. BACKGROUND: CRS/HIPEC is an effective therapeutic strategy commonly used to treat peritoneal surface malignancies. However, this aggressive approach has the reputation to be associated with a high POM and MM. METHODS: All patients treated with CRS/HIPEC between 2009 and 2018 in France were identified through a national medical database. Patients and perioperative outcomes were analyzed. A cut-off value of the annual CRS/HIPEC caseload affecting the 90-day POM was calculated using the Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector method. A multivariable logistic model was used to identify factors mediating 90-day POM. RESULTS: A total of 7476 CRS/HIPEC were analyzed. Median age was 59 years with a mean Elixhauser comorbidity index of 3.1, both increasing over time (P < 0.001). Ninety-day POM was 2.6%. MM occurred in 44.2% with a FTR rate of 5.1%. The threshold of CRS/HIPEC number per center per year above which the 90-day POM was significantly reduced was 45 (3.2% vs 1.9%, P = 0.01). High-volume centers had more extended surgery (P < 0.001) with increased MM (55.8% vs 40.4%, P < 0.001) but lower FTR (3.1% vs 6.3%, P = 0.001). After multivariate analysis, independent factors associated with 90-day POM were: age >70 years (P = 0.002), Elixhauser comorbidity index ≥8 (P = 0.006), lower gastro-intestinal origin, (P < 0.010), MM (P < 0.001), and <45 procedures/yr (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: In France, CRS/HIPEC is a safe procedure with an acceptable 90-day POM that could even be improved through centralization in high-volume centers.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Five Competing Strategies for the Management of Multiple Recurrent Community-Onset Clostridium difficile Infection in France.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is characterized by high rates of recurrence, resulting in substantial health care costs. The aim of this study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of treatments for the management of second recurrence of community-onset CDI in France. METHODS: We developed a decision-analytic simulation model to compare 5 treatments for the management of second recurrence of community-onset CDI: pulsed-tapered vancomycin, fidaxomicin, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) via colonoscopy, FMT via duodenal infusion, and FMT via enema. The model outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), expressed as cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) among the 5 treatments. ICERs were interpreted using a willingness-to-pay threshold of €32,000/QALY. Uncertainty was evaluated through deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: Three strategies were on the efficiency frontier: pulsed-tapered vancomycin, FMT via enema, and FMT via colonoscopy, in order of increasing effectiveness. FMT via duodenal infusion and fidaxomicin were dominated (i.e. less effective and costlier) by FMT via colonoscopy and FMT via enema. FMT via enema compared with pulsed-tapered vancomycin had an ICER of €18,092/QALY. The ICER for FMT via colonoscopy versus FMT via enema was €73,653/QALY. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis with 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations showed that FMT via enema was the most cost-effective strategy in 58% of simulations and FMT via colonoscopy was favored in 19% at a willingness-to-pay threshold of €32,000/QALY. CONCLUSIONS: FMT via enema is the most cost-effective initial strategy for the management of second recurrence of community-onset CDI at a willingness-to-pay threshold of €32,000/QALY.

Outcome and cost analysis of sacral nerve modulation for treating urinary and/or fecal incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Sacral nerve modulation (SNM) is an established treatment for urinary and fecal incontinence in patients for whom conservative management has failed. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the outcome and cost analysis of SNM compared to alternative medical and surgical treatments. METHODS: Clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness analyses were performed in parallel with a prospective, multicenter cohort study that included 369 consecutive patients with urge urinary and/or fecal incontinence. The duration of follow-up was 24 months, and costs were estimated from the national health perspective. Cost-effectiveness outcomes were expressed as incremental costs per 50% of improved severity scores (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio). RESULTS: The SNM significantly improved the continence status (P < 0.005) and quality of life (P < 0.05) of patients with urge urinary and/or fecal incontinence compared to alternative treatments. The average cost of SNM for urge urinary incontinence was ∈8525 (95% confidence interval, ∈6686-∈10,364; P = 0.001) more for the first 2 years compared to alternative treatments. The corresponding increase in cost for subjects with fecal incontinence was ∈6581 (95% confidence interval, ∈2077-∈11,084; P = 0.006). When an improvement of more than 50% in the continence severity score was used as the unit of effectiveness, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for SNM was ∈94,204 and ∈185,160 at 24 months of follow-up for urinary and fecal incontinence, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The SNM is a cost-effective treatment for urge urinary and/or fecal incontinence.