Economic analysis of n-butyl cyanoacrylate compared with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer liquid embolic embolization of brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) from a US hospital perspective

Outcome of early versus late primary embolization in ruptured brain arteriovenous malformations

PURPOSE

To determine whether patients with a ruptured brain arteriovenous malformation (rBAVM) would benefit from an early embolization.

METHODS

rBAVM treated first by embolization between March 2002 and May 2022 were included. Embolization was defined early (Group 1) when performed within 10 days postbleeding. If later, embolization was considered late (Group 2). Demographic and rBAVM data were compared between the groups. High-risk bleeding components and reasons for deferring embolization were retrieved. Primary endpoint was rebleeding. Secondary endpoints were good functional outcome (FO, modified Rankin Scale mRS ≤ 2) and angiographic occlusion. Predictors of rebleeding and FO were determined by multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

105 patients were recruited (N = 34 in Group 1; N = 71 in Group 2). No rebleeding was noted before, during or after the first embolization session in the early embolization group. Late embolization depended on missed diagnosis and referral pattern. Eleven patients (10.5%) suffered a rebleeding, of whom N = 3 before embolization (only in Group 2), N = 5 periembolization (N = 2 at the second embolization session in Group 1) and N = 3 spontaneous more than 30 days postembolization. More high-risk components were embolized in Group 1 (19/34; 55.9 vs 17/71; 23.9%; p = .011). Rebleeding rates, FO at last FU (90.9% vs 74.3%) and occlusion rates (80.8% vs 88.5%) did not differ between the groups. Glasgow coma scale ≤ 8 predicted rebleeding, rebleeding correlated with poor FO.

CONCLUSION

Early embolization did prevent rebleeding. The overall rebleeding risk was linked to bleeding before late embolization and bleeding at the second embolization. Rebleeding predicted the final FO.

Comparative cost analysis of liquid embolization systems for brain arteriovenous malformation using a real-world US hospital database: TRUFILL® versus OnyxTM

BACKGROUND

Liquid embolic systems (LES) such as n-butyl cyanoacrylate-based TRUFILL® and ethylene vinyl-alcohol copolymer-based OnyxTM are widely used for the embolization of brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs). The purpose of this study was to compare hospital cost and length of stay (LOS) among unruptured bAVM patients undergoing embolization procedures with TRUFILL versus Onyx LES.

METHODS

Adult patients with unruptured bAVMs undergoing endovascular embolization with TRUFILL or Onyx LES between January 1, 2010 and June 30, 2020 were identified from the Premier Healthcare Database. Baseline covariates among the two groups were balanced using propensity score matching. Outcomes including total procedure cost, supply cost, and LOS were examined. A Generalized Estimating Equation model was used to assess outcomes in the matched cohorts.

RESULTS

A total of 1072 patients were included in the study; 140 embolized with TRUFILL (mean age 47.06 [15.72] years, 45.70% male) and 932 embolized with Onyx (mean age 46.80 [16.65] years, 52.30% male). In the post-match cohort, the total procedure costs were lower for the TRUFILL (n = 130) versus Onyx (n = 333) group, though not significantly ($36,798 vs. $40,988; odds ratio [OR] = 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73-1.10; p = 0.30). However, supply cost was significantly lower for hospitalizations with TRUFILL compared to Onyx use ($13,281 vs. $16,371, OR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.98; p = 0.026). Hospital LOS was similar in these two groups (TRUFILL: 4.05 vs. Onyx: 4.06 days; OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.70, 1.42; p = 0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

In a large, multi-center, real-world sample of patients undergoing bAVM embolization, TRUFILL use was associated with significantly lower supply cost compared to Onyx use.