Systematic review of the cost-effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

OBJECTIVE: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as an alternative treatment to aortic valve replacement (AVR) for selected patients with severe aortic stenosis. The present systematic review was conducted to analyze the cost-effectiveness of this novel technique within reimbursed healthcare systems. METHODS: Two reviewers used 7 electronic databases from January 2000 to November 2012 to identify relevant cost-effectiveness studies of TAVI versus AVR or medical therapy. The primary endpoints were the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and the probability of cost-effectiveness. The eligible studies for the present systematic review included those in which the cost-effectiveness data were measured or projected for TAVI and either medical therapy or AVR. All forms of TAVI were included, and all retrieved publications were limited to the English language. RESULTS: Eight studies were included for quantitative assessment. The ICER for TAVI compared with medical therapy for surgically inoperable patients ranged from US$26,302 to US$61,889 per quality-adjusted life year gained. The probability of TAVI being cost-effective compared with medical therapy ranged from 0.03 to 1.00. The ICER values for TAVI compared with AVR for high-risk surgical candidates ranged from US$32,000 to US$975,697 per quality-adjusted life year gained. The probability of TAVI being cost-effective in this cohort ranged from 0.116 to 0.709. CONCLUSIONS: Depending on the ICER threshold selected, TAVI is potentially justified on both medical and economic grounds compared with medical therapy for patients deemed to be surgically inoperable. However, in the high-risk surgical patient cohort, the evidence is currently insufficient to economically justify the use of TAVI in preference to AVR.

A quality assurance programme for cell salvage in cardiac surgery.

At the same time as cell salvage was introduced into our institution for all patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, we established a supporting programme of quality assurance to reassure clinicians regarding safety and efficacy. Data collected in patients operated on between 2001 and 2007 included pre- and post-wash heparin concentration, haemoglobin concentration and free haemoglobin concentration. Cell salvage was used in 6826 out of a total of 7243 patients (94%). Post-wash heparin concentration was consistently low (always < 0.4 IU.ml(-1)). There was a significant decrease in post-wash haemoglobin concentration in 2003 compared to 2001, from a median (IQR [range]) of 19.6 (16.7-22.2 [12.9-25.5]) g.dl(-1) to 17.5 (13.6-20.8 [12.6-23.7]) g.dl(-1) (p < 0.015). In addition, there was a significant increase in free plasma haemoglobin in 2006 compared to 2001, from 0.5 (0.3-0.8 [0.1-2.6]) g.l(-1) to 0.8 (0.3-1.4 [0.3-5.2]) g.l(-1) (p < 0.001). This programme led to the detection of a change in operator behaviour in 2003 and progressive machine deterioration resulting in appropriate fleet replacement in 2006. You can respond to this article at http://www.anaesthesiacorrespondence.com.

Acupuncture anesthesia for open heart surgery in contemporary China.

BACKGROUND: Although the use of acupuncture anesthesia for open heart surgery, which was introduced in China four decades ago, has declined in recent years, there is a renewed interest in it in contemporary China due to the escalating medical costs associated with open heart surgery. This study was aimed to determine whether a combined acupuncture-medicine anesthesia (CAMA) strategy reduces early postoperative morbidity and medical costs in patients undergoing open heart operation under cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: From July 2006 to October 2010, CAMA was applied in 100 patients undergoing open heart surgery in comparison with another 100 patients under the conventional general anesthesia (GA). For all the CAMA patients, an abdominal breathing training program was practiced for the 3 consecutive days prior to operation. About 15 to 20 min prior to surgical incision, acupuncture needles were inserted into the bilateral points ZhongFu, LieQue, and XiMen. During operation, patients were kept on spontaneous breathing. Endotracheal intubation was not employed but only prepared as a standby. The narcotic drugs, fentanyl and midazolam, were intravenously injected but in very low doses as compared to GA. Open heart procedures were performed routinely in both groups. RESULTS: Compared with the GA patients, the CAMA patients had a less usage of narcotic drugs (p<0.001), less postoperative pulmonary infection (p<0.05), shorter stay in intensive care unit (p<0.05), and a lower medical cost (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A combined acupuncture-medicine anesthesia strategy reduces the postoperative morbidity and medical costs in patients undergoing open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass.

The use of cell salvage in routine cardiac surgery is ineffective and not cost-effective and should be reserved for selected cases.

The reported benefits of intraoperative cell salvage are decreased requirement for blood transfusion and cost-effectiveness. This study was designed to challenge this hypothesis. We assessed intraoperative blood loss and the use of cell saver in our institution. In <7% of cases the volume of blood loss was sufficient enough to be washed and returned. We conclude that the routine use of cell savers in all cardiac operations affords no benefit and consumes additional revenue. We recommend that the system only be considered in selected high-risk cases or complex procedures.

Atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: incidence, risk factors, and economic burden.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF), the predisposing factors, the results of treatment before discharge, and the impact on duration and costs of hospitalization. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. METHODS: Patients who underwent cardiac surgery from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007. INTERVENTIONS: Electrocardiography was continuously monitored after surgery. Patients with symptomatic new-onset atrial fibrillation or lasting >15 minutes were treated with amiodarone and with DC shock in prolonged cases. RESULTS: POAF occurred in 29.7%, with the higher incidence between the 1st and 4th postoperative day. Age (p < 0.001), atrial size >40 mm (p < 0.001), previous episodes of AF (p < 0.001), female sex (p = 0.010), and combined valve and bypass surgery (p = 0.012) were multivariate predictors of POAF at logistic regression. Sinus rhythm was restored by early treatment in 205 of 215 patients. This was associated with a low incidence of cerebrovascular events (<0.5%) and with a limited increase of average length of hospitalization (24 hours) in patients with POAF. CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of POAF in the authors' center is close to 30%; 95.3% of patients were discharged in sinus rhythm. The increase in length and costs of hospitalization (on average, 1.0 day with a burden of about €1,800/patient) were significantly lower than in previous investigations.

[Cost-benefit analysis of concomitant atrial fibrillation management in Spain]. / Análisis de coste-utilidad del manejo de la fibrilación auricular concomitante en España.

OBJECTIVES: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice; this disorder is a risk factor for stroke and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Our objective was to develop a cost-utility analysis of the different treatment alternatives in patients aged 40 years old or more with concomitant AF with valve disease in Spain, from the National Health System perspective. METHODS: An economic evaluation through a Markov model with four health states (sinus rhythm, AF, dependent stroke, death) was developed to simulate the evolution of a cohort of 1,000 patients receiving each treatment alternative in addition to mitral valve surgery (drug therapy, surgical ablation and catheter ablation). The time horizon was 5 years, with a cycle length of 3 months. Data on costs and effects were obtained from the published literature and expert opinion and were discounted at 3.5%. A sensitivity analysis was developed to determine the robustness of the results. RESULTS: The quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gained were 3.29, 3.89, and 3.83, respectively, for the alternatives of no ablation, surgical ablation and catheter ablation. The costs per patient were 5,770euro, 10,034euro and 11,289euro, respectively. The surgical ablation cost/QALY rate compared with no ablation was 7,145euro. Surgical ablation was dominant versus catheter ablation. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that the results were robust. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical ablation is a cost-effective treatment option in patients with concomitant AF, with a cost-effectiveness ratio under the efficiency threshold commonly accepted in Spain.

Peroperative cell salvage.

Red cell salvage (RCS) is now an established therapy for patients undergoing surgery with an associated risk of heavy bleeding. It should always be available for such patients. It is, however, only one part of what should be a multifaceted approach to blood conservation and it does not replace the need for good quality surgical haemostasis.

Similar preoperative hemodynamic response to pancuronium and rocuronium in high-risk cardiac surgical patients.

AIM: Rocuronium may be a good alternative to pancuronium in cardiac surgical patients. We evaluate the hemodynamic response to rocuronium and pancuronium administered to cardiac surgical patients. METHODS: A single-blind, randomized clinical trial was carried out at the National Institute of Cardiology in Mexico. Twenty-two patients older than 18 years, NYHA class III-IV, and scheduled to undergo an elective cardiovascular surgical procedure were enrolled. Patients were randomly allocated to receive an i.v. bolus dose of either pancuronium 100 microg/kg or rocuronium 600 microg/kg. Peripheral arterial (radial) and venous cannulations and insertion of a multi-lumen pulmonary artery flotation catheter through the right internal jugular vein were carried out under local anesthesia. Anesthetic induction with an i.v. bolus dose of fentanyl 700 microg and diazepam 20 mg was performed and thereafter the neuromuscular blocking agent was administered. Ventilation with O2 100% was performed until a TOF < or =5% was observed and tracheal intubation was performed. After intubation, patients were maintained with O2 10 mL/kg administered by means of a pulmonary ventilator at a pressure of 20-25 cm H2O. The basal, pre-laryngoscopy, post-intubation, and pre-operative recording of a set of cardiovascular parameters were obtained. RESULTS: No differences (P>0.05) in the hemodynamic response were observed between pancuronium and rocuronium nor during the different evaluation times in each group. CONCLUSIONS: Rocuronium can be a safe alternative to pancuronium for patients requiring cardiac surgical procedures.

Autologous blood donation in cardiac surgery: reduction of allogeneic blood transfusion and cost-effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess transfusion requirements in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with and without autologous blood donation and to calculate the costs of predonation from the hospital perspective. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Single university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Four thousand three hundred twenty-five patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with and without autologous blood donation. INTERVENTIONS: Eight hundred forty-nine patients (20%) underwent autologous blood donation, whereas 3,476 (80%) did not. Perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion was recorded as the primary endpoint. To avoid selection bias, patients were stratified according to their preoperative risk score. A decision model was derived from acquired data for the optimization of autologous blood donation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Allogeneic blood transfusion rate was 13% in patients with predonation versus 48% without predonation (p < 0.05). This difference remained statistically significant even after risk stratification. The predonation of 1, 2, or 3 units reduced the probability of receiving allogeneic blood to 24%, 14%, and 9%, respectively. An efficient program of predonation within the department of anesthesiology allowed keeping the costs of predonation low. Decision-tree analysis revealed that predonation of 2 autologous units of blood saved the most allogeneic blood for the smallest increase in costs. Incremental cost for male patients predonating 2 units was dollars 33 (US), whereas for females predonation could be done at no extra cost in comparison to patients without predonation. CONCLUSION: Autologous blood donation significantly reduces allogeneic blood requirement in cardiac surgery. If adjusted for diagnosis and gender, autologous blood donation is a cost-effective alternative to reduce allogeneic blood consumption.

[New Eastern Westfalian Postoperative Therapeutic Concept (NOPT). A telemedically guided study for ambulatory rehabilitation of patients after cardiac surgery]. / Neues Ostwestfälisches Postoperatives Therapiekonzept (NOPT) Eine telemedizinisch betreute Studie zur ambulanten Rehabilitation von Patienten nach kardiochirurgischen Operationen.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In-hospital rehabilitation can improve recovery of patients after surgery, but also contributes to the high costs of the German health system. Therefore, the possibility of a telemedically monitored rehabilitation at home as an alternative to an in-hospital rehabilitation was evaluated in a pilot study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In an open trial, 100 patients performed an ambulatory rehabilitation after heart surgery under coverage of telemedical monitoring for 3 months. 70 patients performed a regular conventional in-hospital rehabilitation for 3 weeks. Physical performance, quality of life (questionnaire), complications, and costs were assessed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: 6 and also 12 months after surgery, maximal physical performance was significantly increased by 46-54 W in both study groups compared to their baseline value. Moreover, physical and psychological quality of life had increased in both study groups compared to baseline values. However, only in the ambulatory group all items had increased with statistical significance. Fewer insults of angina pectoris were reported during follow-up in the ambulatory group compared to the in-hospital group (p < 0.01). Total costs of the rehabilitation were 59% lower in the ambulatory group compared to the in-hospital group. CONCLUSION: An ambulatory rehabilitation improves physical performance, quality of life, and is safe and cheap. The data of this study indicate that rehabilitation at home can be established instead of an in-hospital rehabilitation for patients after heart surgery.

Guided imagery in cardiac surgery.

Clinical research has demonstrated that guided imagery, a simple form of relaxation, can reduce preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain among patients undergoing surgical procedures. In 1998, the cardiac surgery team implemented a guided imagery program to compare cardiac surgical outcomes between two groups of patients: with and without guided imagery. Data from the hospital financial cost/accounting database and patient satisfaction data were collected and matched to the two groups of patients. A questionnaire was developed to assess the benefits of the guided imagery program to those who elected to participate in it. Patients who completed the guided imagery program had a shorter average length of stay, a decrease in average direct pharmacy costs, and a decrease in average direct pain medication costs while maintaining high overall patient satisfaction with the care and treatment provided. Guided imagery is now considered a complementary means to reduce anxiety, pain, and length of stay among our cardiac surgery patients.

Local anaesthesia versus general anaesthesia for cardioverter-defibrillator implantation.

AIMS: Cardioverter-defibrillators are conventionally implanted under general anaesthesia. However, implantation under conscious sedation is being increasingly used. It has been shown that cardioverter-defibrillators can be implanted in a more pacemaker-like approach: under local anaesthesia for the surgical procedure, and with mild sedation for defibrillation threshold testing only. The aim of the present study was to compare local and general anaesthesia in defibrillation threshold testing and implantation of cardioverter-defibrillators. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty patients were assigned to two groups: in the first 20 consecutive patients the cardioverter-defibrillator was implanted under general anaesthesia (GA), and in the subsequent 20 patients under local anaesthesia (LA). There was no significant difference between the two groups in regard of age, body weight, underlying disease, left ventricular ejection fraction, and NYHA classification. The defibrillation threshold was 13.7 +/- 5.5 J under local anaesthesia versus 10.7 +/- 4.7 J under general anaesthesia (n.s.). For defibrillation threshold testing 7.9 +/- 3.6 shocks had to be applied in patients under general anaesthesia versus 6.2 +/- 1.3 shocks under local anaesthesia (n.s.). Mean heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation and mean arterial blood pressure remained stable throughout defibrillation threshold testing, irrespective of the type of anaesthesia used. The duration of the surgical procedure was 62 +/- 16 min under GA and 60 +/- 14 min under LA (n.s.), however, the entire implantation procedure was significantly longer in patients under general anaesthesia than in those under local anaesthesia (124 +/- 24 min and 97 +/- 22 min, respectively, p < 0.005). There were no complications in either group and the procedure was well tolerated. With the use of local anaesthesia the cost of anaesthesia were reduced by 72%. CONCLUSION: Local anaesthesia in combination with mild sedation is as safe and well tolerated as general anaesthesia in cardioverter-defibrillator implantation. Lidocaine used for local anaesthesia does not adversely affect the defibrillation threshold. Device implantation in a pacemaker-like approach results in a significant reduction in total procedure time and costs, and facilitates scheduling of the procedure.

Shed mediastinal blood transfusion after cardiac operations: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgical patients consume a significant fraction of the annual volume of allogeneic blood transfused. Scavenged autologous blood may serve as a cost-effective means of conserving donated blood and avoiding transfusion-related complications. METHODS: This study examines 834 patients after cardiac operations at the University of Alabama Hospital. Data were collected on patients receiving unwashed, filtered, autologous transfusions from shed mediastinal drainage and those receiving allogeneic transfusions. The data were incorporated into clinical decision models; confidence intervals for parameters were estimated by bootstrapping sample statistics. Costs were estimated for transfusing both allogeneic and autologous blood. RESULTS: The study found a 54% reduction in transfusion risk or a mean reduction of 1.41 allogeneic units per case (95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.79 units). The process saved between $49 and $62 per case. CONCLUSIONS: The use of autologous blood has the potential to significantly reduce the costs and risks associated with transfusing allogeneic blood after cardiac operations.

Conservation of blood in cardiac surgery.

The rising costs of surgical care and decreasing third-party reimbursement mandate conservation of surgical resources and supplies whenever possible. One such resource is autologous blood. Its conservation has the added benefit of protecting the patient from the potential dangers of homologous blood and its products. This article presents conservation techniques found to be feasible in open-heart surgery.