[Cost analysis of patient blood management]

[The costs of preoperative anemia in hip joint revision surgery]

BACKGROUND

Anemia is highly prevalent in patients before hip joint revision surgery (HJRS) and is associated with an increased complication rate. This paper is the first to investigate costs, real diagnosis-related group (DRG) revenues and case coverage of preoperative anemia in elective HJRS.

METHODS

Medical data, transfusions, costs, and revenues of all patients undergoing HJRS at two campuses of the Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin between 2010 and 2017 were used for subgroup analyses and linear regressions.

RESULTS

Of 1187 patients included 354 (29.8%) showed preoperative anemia. A total of 565 (47.6%) patients were transfused with a clear predominance of anemic patients (72.6% vs. 37.0%, p < 0.001). Costs (12,318€ [9027;20,044€] vs. 8948€ [7501;11,339€], p < 0.001) and revenues (11,788€ [8992;16,298€] vs. 9611€ [8332;10,719€], p < 0.001) were higher for preoperatively anemic patients and the coverage was deficient (-1170€ [-4467;1238€] vs. 591€ [-1441;2103€], p < 0.001). In anemic patients, case contribution margins decreased with increasing transfusion rates (p ≤ 0.001). Comorbidities had no significant economic impact.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative anemia and perioperative transfusions in HJRS are associated with increased treatment costs and a financial undercoverage for healthcare providers and health insurance companies. Concepts for the treatment of preoperative anemia (e.g. patient blood management) could reduce treatment costs in the medium term.

The Efficacy of Bone Wax in Reduction of Perioperative Blood Loss in Total Hip Arthroplasty via Direct Anterior Approach: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Perioperative blood management in total hip arthroplasty (THA) has become a prime focus of research. Given the morbidity, delayed recovery, and prolonged hospital stay associated with postoperative anemia, various measures have been proposed to reduce perioperative blood loss (PBL). In this trial, we studied the efficacy of bone wax application on the distal cut surface of the femoral neck in reducing PBL during THA through the direct anterior approach.

METHODS

In a randomized controlled clinical trial, 152 patients underwent THA through the direct anterior approach with use of bone wax (n = 75) or without bone wax (control) (n = 77). The study was triple-blinded. The primary outcomes were apparent PBL (blood in sponges and suction canister) and total PBL on postoperative days (PODs) 3 and 5 (as calculated with the Good and Nadler methods). Transfusion and complications were the secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

No significant difference was found between the 2 groups in terms of age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, etiology, preoperative hematologic/coagulation profile, anesthesia, intraoperative mean arterial pressure, or operative time. Apparent PBL, total PBL on POD3, and total PBL, in milliliters, on POD5 were significantly lower in the wax group, with median values of 200 (interquartile range [IQR]: 115 to 310) versus 370 (IQR: 195 to 513.7), 505.2 (IQR: 409.2 to 637.6) versus 747 (IQR: 494.6 to 955.4), and 536.7 (IQR: 430.9 to 689.3) versus 767.8 (IQR: 537.8 to 1,021.9) in the wax and control groups, respectively (p < 0.001). No significant differences in the rates of transfusion and complications were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Bone wax on the cut surface of femoral neck can significantly reduce PBL during THA through the direct anterior approach. Bone wax is accessible and inexpensive and can be considered a routine part of the surgical technique in THA through the direct anterior approach. This intervention has no impact on complication or transfusion rates.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level I . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Cell Salvage at the ICU

Patient Blood Management (PBM) is a patient-centered, systemic and evidence-based approach. Its target is to manage and to preserve the patient's own blood. The aim of PBM is to improve patient safety. As indicated by several meta-analyses in a systematic literature search, the cell salvage technique is an efficient method to reduce the demand for allogeneic banked blood. Therefore, cell salvage is an important tool in PBM. Cell salvage is widely used in orthopedic-, trauma-, cardiac-, vascular and transplant surgery. Especially in cases of severe bleeding cell salvage adds significant value for blood supply. In cardiac and orthopedic surgery, the postoperative use for selected patients at the intensive care unit is feasible and can be implemented well in practice. Since the retransfusion of unwashed shed blood should be avoided due to multiple side effects and low quality, cell salvage can be used to reduce postoperative anemia with autologous blood of high quality. Implementing quality management, compliance with hygienic standards as well as training and education of staff, it is a cost-efficient method to reduce allogeneic blood transfusion. The following article will discuss the possibilities, legal aspects, implementation and costs of using cell salvage devices in an intensive care unit.

Cost of red blood cell transfusion; evaluation in a French academic hospital

OBJECTIVES

The economic impact of Patient blood management (PBM) must be assessed beyond the acquisition cost of blood products alone. The estimate of indirect costs may vary depending on the organization and the elements taken into account. The transposition of data from the literature into a specific local context is therefore delicate. The objective of this work was to evaluate the overall cost of red blood cell concentrate (RBC) transfusion from a French healthcare establishment point of view.

METHODS

We carried out an activity based costing analysis in our hospital for the year 2018. The steps of the transfusion process and additional costs were detailed and cumulated (resource consumption, labor time, frequency) to populate the ABC model. Several scenarios were developed focusing either on RBC, all blood products or the surgical activity, and a univariate sensitivity analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

The average total cost of transfusion, including acquisition cost, was 339,64 euros per RBC transfused. The cost of administration was 138.41 euros/RBC. Focusing only on surgical activities increased this cost (152.43 euros) while taking all blood products into account reduced it (92.49 euros).

CONCLUSION

The difference in our results with the literature confirms the local variability in the cost of transfusion, which may affect the economic impact of PBM. Our study related to the specific context of a single French institution has limitations that a multicenter study would clarify in order to carry out economic modelling of transfusion optimization and alternatives and to guide the choice of PBM strategies at the national level.

Estimating the Epidemiological and Economic Impact of Implementing Preoperative Anaemia Measures in the German Healthcare System: The Health Economic Footprint of Patient Blood Management

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to quantify the potential epidemiological and health economic benefits of implementing preoperative anaemia measures (PAMs) in clinical practice in the German healthcare system.

METHODS

An evidence-based health economic model was developed to assess the possible impact of implementing PAMs, the first pillar of patient blood management (PBM), in a German population. The analysis of two risk factors-iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) and receipt of a red blood cell concentrate (RBC) transfusion during elective surgery-allowed the estimation of relative risks (RRs), average cost per patient, average length of hospital stay, and avoided hospital deaths after the implementation of PAMs.

RESULTS

A total of 4,591,060 patients who had undergone elective surgery during 2015 were identified, of which 29,170 (0.64%) were diagnosed with preoperative IDA. These patients had an increased RR of receiving a RBC transfusion during surgery (RR 5.031; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.928, 5.136) and increased mortality risk (RR 3.630; 95% CI 3.401, 3.874) versus patients without IDA. Patients who received a RBC transfusion during surgery had a 24.6-times higher risk of death than those who did not (RR 24.593; 95% CI 24.121, 25.075). Average cost of treatment was €7883 in patients with IDA, €21,744 in patients with IDA and RBC transfusion, and €4560 in patients without risk factors. The model identified 29,714 patients (0.65%) who had received a RBC transfusion and who potentially had IDA but remained undiagnosed before surgery. Hypothetical implementation of PAMs would have resulted in an estimated annual net hospital direct cost saving of €1029 million (1.58%) of total hospital direct costs of the German healthcare system and 3036 hospital deaths (0.07%) avoided.

CONCLUSIONS

This model estimated the impact of implementing PAMs for patients with IDA undergoing elective surgery. A significant number of deaths, costly treatments, and hospital days could have been avoided by the introduction of PAMs in routine clinical practice in Germany.

Health economics of Patient Blood Management: a cost-benefit analysis based on a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Patient Blood Management (PBM) is the timely application of evidence-based medical and surgical concepts designed to improve haemoglobin concentration, optimize haemostasis and minimize blood loss in an effort to improve patient outcomes. The focus of this cost-benefit analysis is to analyse the economic benefit of widespread implementation of a multimodal PBM programme.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Based on a recent meta-analysis including 17 studies (>235 000 patients) comparing PBM with control care and data from the University Hospital Frankfurt, a cost-benefit analysis was performed. Outcome data were red blood cell (RBC) transfusion rate, number of transfused RBC units, and length of hospital stay (LOS). Costs were considered for the following three PBM interventions as examples: anaemia management including therapy of iron deficiency, use of cell salvage and tranexamic acid. For sensitivity analysis, a Monte Carlo simulation was performed.

RESULTS

Iron supplementation was applied in 3·1%, cell salvage in 65% and tranexamic acid in 89% of the PBM patients. In total, applying these three PBM interventions costs €129·04 per patient. However, PBM was associated with a reduction in transfusion rate, transfused RBC units per patient, and LOS which yielded to mean savings of €150·64 per patient. Thus, the overall benefit of PBM implementation was €21·60 per patient. In the Monte Carlo simulation, the cost savings on the outcome side exceeded the PBM costs in approximately 2/3 of all repetitions and the total benefit was €1 878 000 in 100·000 simulated patients.

CONCLUSION

Resources to implement a multimodal PBM concept optimizing patient care and safety can be cost-effectively.

[Various scenarios for billing and remuneration of preoperative management of iron deficiency anemia in the German healthcare system]

More than 30% of all patients undergoing surgery suffer from preoperative anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. The diagnostics and treatment of iron deficiency anemia can be carried out before patients undergo surgery as an alternative to blood transfusion and is an interdisciplinary task. This article gives an overview of various billing modalities and payment arrangements for management of preoperative anemia in the German healthcare system.

An international consensus statement on the management of postoperative anaemia after major surgical procedures

Despite numerous guidelines on the management of anaemia in surgical patients, there is no pragmatic guidance for the diagnosis and management of anaemia and iron deficiency in the postoperative period. A number of experienced researchers and clinicians took part in a two-day expert workshop and developed the following consensus statement. After presentation of our own research data and local policies and procedures, appropriate relevant literature was reviewed and discussed. We developed a series of best-practice and evidence-based statements to advise on patient care with respect to anaemia and iron deficiency in the postoperative period. These statements include: a diagnostic approach to iron deficiency and anaemia in surgical patients; identification of patients appropriate for treatment; and advice on practical management and follow-up that is easy to implement. Available data allow the fulfilment of the requirements of Pillar 1 of Patient Blood Management. We urge national and international research funding bodies to take note of these recommendations, particularly in terms of funding large-scale prospective, randomised clinical trials that can most effectively address the important clinical questions and this clearly unmet medical need.

Assessing the costs and benefits of perioperative iron deficiency anemia management with ferric carboxymaltose in Germany

Background

Perioperative administration of ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) was previously shown to reduce both the need for transfusions and the hospital length of stay in patients with preoperative iron deficiency anemia (IDA). In this study, we estimated the economic consequences of perioperative administration using FCM vs usual care in patients with IDA from the perspective of a German hospital using decision-analytic modeling.

Materials and methods

The model was populated with clinical inputs (transfusion rates, blood units transfused, hospital length of stay) from a previously reported randomized trial comparing FCM vs usual care for managing IDA patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery. We applied a hospital perspective to all costs, excluding surgery-related costs in both treatment arms. One-way sensitivity analyses were undertaken to evaluate key drivers of cost analysis.

Results

The average costs per case treated using FCM compared to usual care were €2,461 and €3,246, respectively, for resource expenses paid by hospital per case. This would suggest potential savings achieved with preoperative intravenous iron treatment per patient of €786 per case. A sensitivity analysis varying the key input parameters indicated the cost analysis is most sensitive to changes in the length of stay and the cost of hospitalization per day.

Conclusion

Perioperative administration of FCM results in cost savings to hospitals based on reduced blood transfusions and length of stay following elective abdominal surgery.

A model-based cost-effectiveness analysis of Patient Blood Management

BACKGROUND

Patient blood management (PBM) is a multidisciplinary concept focused on the management of anaemia, minimisation of iatrogenic blood loss and rational use of allogeneic blood products. The aims of this study were: (i) to analyse post-operative outcome in patients with liberal vs restrictive exposure to allogeneic blood products and (ii) to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of PBM in patients undergoing surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed to compare post-operative complications in predominantly non-transfused patients (restrictive transfusion group) and patients who received one to three units of red blood cells (liberal transfusion group). Outcome measures included sepsis with/without pneumonia, acute renal failure, acute myocardial infarction and acute stroke. In a second step, a health economic model was developed to calculate cost-effectiveness of PBM (PBM-arm vs control-arm) for simulated cohorts of 10,000 cardiac and non-cardiac surgical patients based on the results of the meta-analysis and costs.

RESULTS

Out of 478 search results, 22 studies were analysed in the meta-analysis. The pooled relative risk of any complication in the restrictive transfusion group was 0.43 for non-cardiac and 0.34 for cardiac surgical patients. In the simulation model, PBM was related to reduced complications (1,768 vs 1,245) and complication-related deaths (411 vs 304) compared to standard care. PBM-related costs of therapy exceeded costs of the control arm by € 150 per patient. However, total costs, including hospitalisation, were higher in the control-arm for both non-cardiac (€ 2,885.11) and cardiac surgery patients (€ 1,760.69). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio including hospitalisation showed savings of € 30,458 (non-cardiac and cardiac surgery patients) for preventing one complication and € 128,023 (non-cardiac and cardiac surgery patients) for prevention of one complication-related death in the PBM-arm.

DISCUSSION

Our results indicate that PBM may be associated with fewer adverse clinical outcomes compared to control management and may, thereby, be cost-effective.