Cost analysis of endoscopic antireflux procedures: endoluminal plication vs. radiofrequency coagulation vs. treatment with a proton pump inhibitor

Cost-effectiveness of proton pump inhibitors versus laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common condition in Western countries. It is unknown whether medical or surgical treatment is more cost-effective. This study was conducted to determine whether laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication or treatment by proton pump inhibitors is the most cost-effective for gastroesophageal reflux disease in the long term.

METHODS

Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for articles published between January 1990 and 2010. The search results were screened by two independent reviewers for economic evaluations comparing costs and effects of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and proton pump inhibitors in adults eligible for both treatments. Cost and effectiveness or utility data were extracted for both treatment modalities. The quality of the economic evaluations was scored using a dedicated checklist, as were the levels of evidence.

RESULTS

Four publications were included; all were based on decision analytic models. The economic evaluations were all of similar quality and all based on data with a variety of evidence levels. Surgery was more expensive than medical treatment in three publications. Two papers reported more quality-adjusted life-years for surgery. However, one of these reported more symptom-free months for medical treatment. In two publications surgery was considered to be the most cost-effective treatment, whereas the other two favored medical treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The results with regard to cost-effectiveness are inconclusive. All four economic models are based on high- and low-quality data. More reliable estimates of cost-effectiveness based on long-term trial data are needed.

The Stretta procedure versus proton pump inhibitors and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a cost-effectiveness analysis

BACKGROUND

The Stretta procedure is an endoscopic therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the Stretta procedure and that of competing strategies in the long-term management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

METHODS

A Markov model was designed to estimate costs and health outcomes in Canadian patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease over five years, from a Ministry of Health perspective. Strategies included the use of daily proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) and the Stretta procedure. Probabilities and utilities were derived from the literature. Costs are expressed in 2006 Canadian dollars. Units of effectiveness were symptom-free months (SFMs) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), using a five-year time horizon.

RESULTS

In the analysis that used SFMs, the strategy using PPIs exhibited the lowest costs ($40 per SFM) and the greatest number of SFMs, thus dominating both the LNF and Stretta systems. But the cost-effectiveness analysis using QALYs as the measure of effectiveness showed that PPIs presented the lowest cost-effectiveness ratio, while both the LNF and Stretta strategies were associated with very high incremental costs (approximately $353,000 and $393,000, respectively) to achieve an additional QALY. However, the PPI strategy did not dominate the two other strategies, which were associated with better effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

If SFMs are used as the measure of effectiveness, PPIs dominate the Stretta and LNF strategies. However, if QALYs are used, the PPIs still present the lowest cost and LNF gives the best effectiveness. Regardless of the units of effectiveness or utility used in the present cost analysis, an approach of prescribing PPIs appears to be the preferred strategy.

Evaluation of endoscopic full-thickness plication on anti-reflux valve competency

BACKGROUND

We sought to investigate the efficacy of endoscopically created, full-thickness plications on the competency of the anti-reflux barrier when placed at different positions on the stomach adjacent to the gastroesophageal junction.

METHODS

Explanted human cadaver stomachs and esophagi were used. An endoscopic plication system (Plicator, NDO Surgical, Mansfield, Massachusetts) was then fitted over a pediatric gastroscope and passed through the esophagus into the stomach. A full-thickness plication implant was then deployed at 1 of 3 positions (fundus, anterior, and between the anterior and the lesser curvature) on the explanted stomach within 1 cm of the gastroesophageal junction. Intragastric pressure was measured before and after plication at the time of visible reflux from the esophagus (reflux threshold) using a water-perfused manometer.

RESULTS

Five explanted stomachs were used. The mean reflux threshold before plication (baseline) was 1.7 mm Hg. A single plication at each position resulted universally in a significantly increased reflux threshold over the baseline value (p < 0.006). The greatest reflux threshold was observed when plication was performed on the anterior wall of the stomach, although this reflux pressure did not achieve statistical significance over the other 2 positions. A second plication performed adjacent to the initial plication at the fundus (n = 2) and anterior (n = 2) positions did increase reflux threshold; however, this increase also failed to achieve statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that an endoscopic, full-thickness plication system can inhibit gastroesophageal reflux effectively in an explanted stomach model. Although anterior plication resulted in the greatest intragastric pressure at reflux, it was not significantly different from intragastric pressure recorded at the other plication positions. A second plication adjacent to the first showed incremental effect, but larger studies are warranted to understand its clinical significance.

Long-term results of radiofrequency energy delivery for the treatment of GERD: sustained improvements in symptoms, quality of life, and drug use at 4-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

The Stretta endoscopic antireflux procedure has effectively controlled symptoms of patients with GERD refractory to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication up to 1 year.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Stretta procedure for patients with GERD based on symptom control, quality of life (QOL), and medication use.

DESIGN

Prospective single-center case series.

SETTING

Academic endoscopy referral center.

PATIENTS

Adults with GERD symptoms and partial response to daily antisecretory medication.

INTERVENTION

We have used the Stretta procedure for patients with GERD diagnosed by endoscopic or pH testing since 2000. Our primary assessment was a validated health-related QOL score for heartburn and regurgitation and GERD symptoms index performed at baseline, 12, 36, and 48 months after treatment. A secondary outcome measure was the dose and the frequency of antisecretory pharmaceutical use.

RESULTS

We performed the Stretta procedure in 83 consecutive patients with persistent GERD symptoms. Complete matched data for follow-up evaluations are reported at 12, 36, and 48 months. The mean GERD QOL score was 2.4 (baseline), 4.6 (36 months), and 4.3 (48 months, P < .001). The mean GERD symptom score was 2.7 (baseline), 0.3 (36 months), and 0.6 (48 months P < .001). Daily medication usage was 100% (baseline) and 13.6% (48 months, P < .001).

LIMITATIONS

Nonrandomized study design, lack of control arm, and lack of 24-hour pH.

CONCLUSIONS

For these GERD patients followed to 4 years, the Stretta procedure was a safe, effective, and durable treatment, with significant and sustained improvements in GERD symptoms, QOL, and PPI elimination.

Endoscopic therapy for GERD: is the evidence for efficacy any stronger?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic medical disorder that has a significant impact on quality of life and afflicts millions of people worldwide. Therapy with either daily medications or surgical fundoplication, though highly effective for the majority of patients, is not without long-term shortcomings. The development of endoscopic antireflux therapies has been fueled by the hope of providing safe, effective, long-term symptomatic relief. Although several studies have been published, they are limited by small sample size, lack of adequate controls, and a highly selective patient population. However, it is clear that many, if not most, patients will continue to be on acid-suppressive therapy despite these procedures. Also, reports of postmarketing adverse effects emphasize the need for further scrutiny of the safety of these devices. This review will summarize the available evidence and provide tentative conclusions about the current and evolving role of endoscopic antireflux therapy.

Long-term outcomes of endoluminal gastroplication: a U.S. multicenter trial

BACKGROUND

Endoluminal gastroplication has shown promise for the treatment of GERD in short-term studies. Until now, long-term outcome data have been lacking.

METHODS

A prospective, multicenter trial enrolled 85 patients with GERD to be treated with endoluminal gastroplication. Inclusion criteria were 3 or more heartburn or regurgitation episodes per week, >4.2% time in 24 hours with esophageal pH < 4, and dependency on antisecretory medications. Exclusion criteria were the presence of varices, achalasia, aperistalsis, or previous gastric resection. Patients underwent manometry, 24-hour pH monitoring, and symptom severity scoring before and after the procedure. Patient diaries were used to assess medication use and to estimate annual medication cost.

RESULTS

At 1- and 2-year follow-up, patients had significant reductions in median heartburn symptom scores (72 at baseline [interquartile range (IQR) 90-48] vs. 4 at 12 months [IQR 43-0] and 16 at 24 months [IQR 53-3.5]; p < 0.0001 vs. baseline) and median regurgitation symptoms (2 at baseline [IQR 3-1] vs. 0 at 12 months (IQR 1-0) and 1 at 24 months [IQR 1-0]; p < 0.0001 vs. baseline). Of all patients, 59% and 52% showed heartburn symptom resolution at 12 and 24 months, respectively ( p < 0.0001 vs. baseline). Also, 83% and 77% had regurgitation symptom resolution at 12 and 24 months, respectively (p < 0.0001 vs. baseline). Proton pump inhibitor use also was significantly reduced at 12 and 24 months after the procedure. At 2-year follow-up, median annualized medication costs were reduced by 88% (1381 US dollars) (p < 0.0001). Endoluminal gastroplication significantly reduced the duration and the number of episodes of esophageal acid exposure (p < 0.0001 vs. baseline). Only 7 patients experienced adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic gastroplication is safe and effective, and is associated with symptom reductions in patients with GERD for at least 24 months.

Endoscopic techniques for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a review of abstracts from Digestive Disease Week 2003

Endoscopic treatments of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are a new and potentially useful form of therapy for reflux disorders. This type of treatment was first introduced at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) in 2000, and the most recent DDW, in 2003, included a growing number of abstracts describing further experience with endoscopic GERD treatments. The studies are still generally open-label trials involving relatively small patient groups given a variety of unique endoscopic GERD treatments, including radiofrequency, thermal ablation, plication suturing, and polymer injection and implantation techniques. Longer patient follow-up after Stretta (Curon Medical, Sunnyvale, CA) procedures, the permanency rate of EndoCinch (Bard Interventional Products, Billerica, MA) plication sutures, and new experiences with Enteryx (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) and Gatekeeper (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) procedures were highlighted at DDW 2003. Despite these unique devices with significant potential for treatment of GERD, caution was expressed concerning their clinical use in anything other than appropriately designed, scientifically validated clinical trials.