Cost Analysis of Endovascular Coiling and Surgical Clipping for the Treatment of Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

[Russian study on brain aneurysm surgery: a continuation (RIHA II)]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the main performance indicators of neurosurgical departments in surgical treatment of cerebral aneurysms in the Russian Federation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analyzed 22 neurosurgical departments (19 regional and 3 federal hospitals) in 2017 and 2021. The study enrolled 6.135 patients including 3.160 ones in 2017 and 2.975 ones in 2021. We studied the features of surgical treatment of cerebral aneurysms in different volume hospitals and factors influencing postoperative outcomes.

RESULTS

The number of surgeries for cerebral aneurysms decreased from 2.950 in 2017 to 2.711 in 2021. Postoperative mortality rate was 6.3% and 5.6%, respectively. The number of microsurgical interventions decreased from 60% in 2017 to 48% in 2021. The share of endovascular interventions increased from 40% to 52%, respectively. Endovascular embolization was accompanied by stenting in 55% of cases. Simultaneous revascularization was carried out in 2% of cases. In 2021, the number of patients undergoing surgery in acute period of hemorrhage increased to 70% (in 2017 - 61%). The number of hospitals performing more than 50 surgical interventions for cerebral aneurysms annually increased from 14 in 2017 to 17 in 2021.

CONCLUSION

Certain changes in neurosurgical service occurred in 2021 compared to 2017. Lower number of surgical interventions for cerebral aneurysms, most likely caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, is accompanied by lower postoperative mortality. Endovascular interventions and revascularization techniques became more common. The number of surgeries in acute period after aneurysm rupture and hospitals performing more than 50 surgical interventions for cerebral aneurysms annually increased.

A Multi-Disciplinary Review of Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing: Practical Considerations for Spine Surgery

STUDY DESIGN

A multi-disciplinary review.

OBJECTIVES

To provide a roadmap for implementing time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) for spine surgery. This is achieved by organizing and scrutinizing publications in the spine, neurosurgical, and orthopedic literature which utilize TDABC and related methodologies.

METHODS

PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for relevant articles. The articles were selected by two independent researchers. After article selection, data was extracted and summarized into research domains. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) systematic review process was followed.

RESULTS

Of the 524 articles screened, thirty-five articles met the inclusion criteria. Each included article was examined and reviewed to define the primary research question and objective. Comparing different procedures was the most common primary objective. Direct observation along with one other strategy (surveys, interviews, surgical database, or EMR) was most commonly employed during process map development. Across all surgical subspecialties (spine, neurologic, and orthopedic surgery), costs were divided into direct cost, indirect cost, cost to patient, and total costs. The most commonly calculated direct costs included personnel and supply costs. Facility costs, hospital overhead costs, and utilities were the most commonly calculated indirect costs. Transportation costs and parental lost wages were considered when calculating cost to patient. The total cost was a sum of direct costs, indirect costs, and costs to the patient.

CONCLUSION

TDABC provides a common platform to accurately estimate costs of care delivery. Institutions embarking on TDABC for spine surgery should consider the breadth of methodologies highlighted in this review to determine which type of calculations are appropriate for their practice.

Endovascular treatment and neurosurgical clipping in subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review of economic evaluations

INTRODUCTION

There are two treatment modalities for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: endovascular treatment (EVT) and neurosurgical clipping. Results of economic evaluations are needed to gain insight into the relationship between clinical effectiveness and costs of these treatment modalities. This important information can inform both clinical decision-making processes and policymakers in facilitating Value-Based Healthcare.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, EBSCO, and Web of Science) were searched for studies published until October 2020 that had performed economic evaluations in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients by comparing EVT with neurosurgical clipping. The quality of reporting and methodology of these evaluations was assessed using the associated instruments (i.e. CHEERS statement and CHEC-list, respectively).

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

A total of 6 studies met the inclusion criteria. All included studies reported both effects and costs, however five did not relate effects to costs. Only one study related effects directly to costs, thus conducted a full economic evaluation. The reporting quality scored 81% and the methodological quality scored 30%.

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of published cost-effectiveness studies on the treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is poor. Six studies reported both outcomes and costs, however only one study performed a full economic evaluation comparing EVT to neurosurgical clipping. Although the reporting quality was sufficient, the methodological quality was poor. Further research that relates health-related quality of life measures to costs of EVT and neurosurgical clipping is required - specifically focusing on both reporting and methodological quality. Different subgroup analyses and modeling could also enhance the findings.

Cost Comparison of Microsurgery vs Endovascular Treatment for Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms: A Propensity-Adjusted Analysis

BACKGROUND

In specialized neurosurgical centers, open microsurgery is routinely performed for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

OBJECTIVE

To compare the cost of endovascular vs microsurgical treatment for aSAH at a single quaternary center.

METHODS

All patients undergoing aSAH treatment from July 1, 2014, to July 31, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were grouped based on primary treatment (microsurgery vs endovascular treatment). The primary outcome was the difference in total cost (including hospital, discharge facility, and all follow-up) using a propensity-adjusted analysis.

RESULTS

Of 384 patients treated for an aSAH, 234 (61%) were microsurgically treated and 150 (39%) were endovascularly treated. The mean cost of index hospitalization for these patients was marginally higher ($9504) for endovascularly treated patients ($103 980) than for microsurgically treated patients ($94 476) ( P = .047). For the subset of patients with follow-up data available, the mean total cost was $45 040 higher for endovascularly treated patients ($159 406, n = 59) than that for microsurgically treated patients ($114 366, n = 105) ( P < .001). After propensity scoring (adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, Glasgow Coma Scale score, Hunt and Hess grade, Fisher grade, aneurysms, and type/size/location), linear regression analysis of patients with follow-up data available revealed that microsurgery was independently associated with healthcare costs that were $37 244 less than endovascular treatment costs ( P < .001). An itemized cost analysis suggested that this discrepancy was due to differences in the rates of aneurysm retreatment and long-term surveillance.

CONCLUSION

Microsurgical treatment for aSAH is associated with lower total healthcare costs than endovascular therapy. Aneurysm surveillance after endovascular treatments, retreatment, and device costs warrants attention in future studies.

An Integrated Cost Model Based on Real Patient Flow: Exploring Surgical Hospitalization

Considering the gap observed in studies on health costs, this article aims to propose a cost calculation model for surgical hospitalization. A systematic literature review using PRISMA was conducted to map cost drivers adopted in similar studies and provide theoretical background. Based on the review, an integrated model considering real patient flow was developed using CHEERS guidelines. The micro-costing top-down method was adopted to develop the cost model allowing a balance between the accuracy of the information and the feasibility of the cost estimate. The proposed model fills two gaps in the literature: the standardization of a cost model and the ability to assess a vast number of different surgery costs in the same hospital. Flexibility stands out as an important advantage of the proposed model, as its application enables evaluation of elective and urgent surgeries of medium and high complexity performed in public and private hospitals. As a limitation, the hospital should have hospital information and cost systems implemented. The proposed cost model can provide important information that can result in better decision making. This becomes more relevant in public health, especially in low- and middle-income countries, which faces a lack of resources and whose positive effects can improve healthcare.

Disturbed flow's impact on cellular changes indicative of vascular aneurysm initiation, expansion, and rupture: A pathological and methodological review

Aneurysms are malformations within the arterial vasculature brought on by the structural breakdown of the microarchitecture of the vessel wall, with aneurysms posing serious health risks in the event of their rupture. Blood flow within vessels is generally laminar with high, unidirectional wall shear stressors that modulate vascular endothelial cell functionality and regulate vascular smooth muscle cells. However, altered vascular geometry induced by bifurcations, significant curvature, stenosis, or clinical interventions can alter the flow, generating low stressor disturbed flow patterns. Disturbed flow is associated with altered cellular morphology, upregulated expression of proteins modulating inflammation, decreased regulation of vascular permeability, degraded extracellular matrix, and heightened cellular apoptosis. The understanding of the effects disturbed flow has on the cellular cascades which initiate aneurysms and promote their subsequent growth can further elucidate the nature of this complex pathology. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the disturbed flow and its relation to aneurysm pathology, the methods used to investigate these relations, as well as how such knowledge has impacted clinical treatment methodologies. This information can contribute to the understanding of the development, growth, and rupture of aneurysms and help develop novel research and aneurysmal treatment techniques.

Imaging versus Intervention in Managing Small Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Current guidelines recommend active surveillance with serial magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for management of small, asymptomatic unruptured anterior circulation aneurysms (UIAs). We sought to determine the cost-effectiveness of active surveillance compared to immediate surgery.

METHODS

We developed a Markov cost-effectiveness model simulating patients with small (<7 mm) UIAs managed by active surveillance via MRA, immediate surgery, or watchful waiting. Inputs for the model were abstracted from the literature and used to construct a comprehensive model following persons from diagnosis to death. Outcomes were quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), lifetime medical costs (2015 USD), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Cost-effectiveness, deterministic, and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Immediate surgical treatment was the most cost-effective management strategy for small UIAs with ICER of USD 45,772 relative to active surveillance. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated immediate surgery was the preferred strategy, if rupture rate was >0.1%/year and if the diagnosis age was <70 years, while active surveillance was preferred if surgical complication risk was >11%. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrated that at a willingness-to-pay of USD 100,000/QALY, immediate surgical treatment was the most cost-effective strategy in 64% of iterations.

CONCLUSION

Immediate surgical treatment is a cost-effective strategy for initial management of small UIAs in patients <70 years of age. While more costly than MRA, surgical treatment increased QALY. The cost-effectiveness of immediate surgery is highly sensitive to diagnosis age, rupture rate, and surgical complication risk. Though there are a wide range of rupture rates and complications associated with treatment, this analysis supports the treatment of small, unruptured anterior circulation intracranial aneurysms in patients <70 years of age.

Comparison of operating room variables, radiation exposure and implant costs for WEB versus stent assisted coiling for treatment of wide neck bifurcation aneurysms

BACKGROUND

The WEB device offers another option for treating wide neck bifurcation aneurysms (WNBA). The objective was to compare procedure variables, radiation and implant cost between WEB and stent assisted coiling (SAC) for WNBA.

METHODS

A retrospective comparison of similarly sized WNBA treated with SAC or WEB over 5-years was performed. The operating room (arrival-departure), anesthesia (intubation-extubation), procedure duration (puncture-closure), fluoroscopy time and radiation dose(m-Gy) were recorded from the patients' charts. Implant cost per case of all implants (stents, coils, WEB) that were opened whether deployed or not was captured including any coils used in the WEB cases. The implant cost represented the true cost incurred by the institution.

RESULTS

There were 46 WEB and 41 SAC cases with no significant difference in aneurysm size. There were more MCA and ACOMM (p = 0.005) and more ruptured aneurysms (p = 0.02) in the WEB group. Regarding procedure variables (hours:minutes): Operating room time WEB 2:31 (±0:37) versus SAC 3:41 (±0:50) (p < 0.0001); anesthesia duration WEB 2:05 (±0:31) versus SAC 3:13 (±0:51) (p < 0.0001) and procedure duration WEB 1:16 (±0:29) versus SAC 2:09 (±0:46) (p < 0.0001). Regarding radiation: Fluoroscopy time WEB 0:34 (±0:18) versus SAC 1:06 (±0:35) (p < 0.0001) and radiation dose WEB 2392(±1086)m-Gy versus SAC 3442 (±1528)m-Gy (p = 0.0007). The implant cost was $17,028(±$5,527) for the WEB versus $23,813 (±$7,456) for the SAC group (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The WEB group had significantly shorter operating room, procedure and anesthesia duration compared to the SAC group. The radiation dose and fluoroscopy time was lower for the WEB group. The total implant cost per case was significantly lower for the WEB versus the SAC group.

Cerebrovascular bypass for ruptured aneurysms: A case series

In patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) unfavorable for endovascular or traditional open surgical techniques, surgical revascularization strategies comprise one of remaining limited options. There is nonetheless a paucity of data on the safety and efficacy of bypass in aSAH. In this study, we aimed to investigate complications and outcomes in a cohort of patients with aSAH treated with bypass. A prospective single-surgeon database of consecutive patients treated for aSAH between 2013 and 2018 was retrospectively analyzed. Complications and functional status at discharge were recorded and analyzed for the patients that underwent bypass surgery. Forty patients with aSAH were treated with bypass surgery (23 extracranial-intracranial; 17 intracranial-intracranial). All-cause perioperative mortality was 13% (6 patients). At discharge and at mean 14-month follow up, respectively, 16/40 (40%) and 16/25 (64%) of patients achieved a Glasgow Outcome Score of 4-5. All-cause, in-hospital complications occurred in 28 patients (70%), of which any ischemic complication occurred in 20 patients (50%), 7 (18%) being open surgical complications. This work represents the largest modern series of bypass for aSAH to date. In cases of aSAH unfavorable for endovascular intervention or traditional open surgical techniques, bypass remains a viable option in this complex group of patients.

Comparison of Subtracted Computed Tomography from Computed Tomography Perfusion and Digital Subtraction Angiography in Residue Evaluation of Treated Intracranial Aneurysms

BACKGROUND

Assessing clipped intracranial aneurysms for residues or incomplete occlusions is critical. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) has been the gold standard for this. Previously, we presented subtracted computed tomography angiography (sub-CTA) from computed tomography perfusion as a more effective noninvasive technique for clipped aneurysms. The aim of this study was to compare effectiveness of sub-CTA with DSA in residue evaluation.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 17 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage operated on at our institution between November 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018, was performed. Residue aneurysms were evaluated with both sub-CTA and DSA. Positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated. Correlation between techniques was determined by the McNemar test and κ value.

RESULTS

Sensitivity of sub-CTA in residue evaluation was low in aneurysms ≤3 mm (positive predictive value = 60%). DSA detected residue aneurysm in 29% (5/17) of patients, whereas sub-CTA detected residue aneurysm in 11% (2/17). Only 40% of aneurysms (2/5) were demonstrated by sub-CTA, all >3 mm; 60% (3/5) were missed, all ≤3 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study comparing the effectiveness of sub-CTA from computed tomography perfusion with DSA in residue aneurysm evaluation. Our results were suggestive, but not conclusive. DSA is still the gold standard in residue evaluation. Sub-CTA from computed tomography perfusion can be a reliable method in evaluation of residual aneurysm >3 mm.