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A Protocol to Set Up Needle-Free Connector with Positive Displacement on Central Venous Catheter in Intensive Care Unit
09:57

A Protocol to Set Up Needle-Free Connector with Positive Displacement on Central Venous Catheter in Intensive Care Unit

Published on: July 13, 2019

The incremental cost effectiveness of withdrawing pulmonary artery catheters from routine use in critical care

Katherine Stevens1, Christopher McCabe, Carys Jones

  • 1School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), Health Economics and Decision Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England. K.Stevens@Sheffield.ac.uk

Applied Health Economics and Health Policy
|February 10, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Withdrawing pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) from UK intensive care units (ICUs) is cost-effective. This study found significant savings per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) and life gained, informing healthcare decisions.

Area of Science:

  • Health Economics
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Clinical Decision Making

Background:

  • Pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) are an established intervention in UK intensive care units (ICUs).
  • The cost-effectiveness of PACs in routine clinical practice requires ongoing evaluation to inform healthcare resource allocation.
  • Understanding the economic implications of established medical technologies is crucial for National Health Service (NHS) decision-makers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct an economic evaluation comparing costs and outcomes of patients treated with and without PACs.
  • To provide data to healthcare decision-makers regarding the use of PACs in ICUs.
  • To assess the cost-effectiveness of withdrawing PACs from routine use.

Main Methods:

  • Economic evaluation conducted alongside a UK clinical trial.
  • Perspective of the UK National Health Service (NHS).
  • Primary outcome: Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs). Secondary outcome: hospital mortality. Costs calculated for 2002/03. Bootstrap methods used for uncertainty analysis and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.

Main Results:

  • The cost per QALY gained from withdrawing PACs was £2892.
  • The cost per life gained from withdrawing PACs was £21,164.
  • These figures suggest a favorable economic return upon discontinuation of PAC use.

Conclusions:

  • Withdrawal of PACs from routine clinical use in UK ICUs is considered cost-effective.
  • The findings support a shift in clinical practice towards non-PAC treatment strategies.
  • This economic evaluation provides evidence for optimizing resource allocation within the NHS.
Abstract

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