Intracavitary ECG versus X-ray guidance for central venous access device tip location: A cost-effectiveness analysis

Intracavitary ECG (IC-ECG) for central venous access devices (CVADs) tip location is one of the most significant innovations in the field of venous access in recent years. Despite there is evidence demonstrating its effect in improving outcomes, data regarding its cost-effectiveness are still scarce.

We conducted a retrospective observational study at a tertiary care Italian hospital comparing IC-ECG versus fluoroscopy plus postprocedural chest X-ray (CXR) and IC-ECG versus postprocedural CXR for port and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) tip location respectively. The primary outcome was to assess the impact of the adoption of IC-ECG versus radiological tip location on annual cost reduction.

Between January 1st and December 31st, 2022, 1722 medium-long term CVADs (753 ports and 969 PICC) were placed at the authors' Vascular Access Center. Costs of single port insertion using fluoroscopy plus CXR or IC-ECG for tip location were €921,04 and €351,42 respectively, with a net saving of €569,62 per procedure in favor of IC-ECG. Costs of a single PICC insertion using postprocedural CXR and IC-ECG for tip location were €364,38 and €320,85 respectively, with a net saving of €43,53 per procedure in favor of IC-ECG. Costs related to primary malpositioning were also calculated, being €926,17 and €52.962,63 for port and PICC respectively. Based on the authors' annual volume of CVAD placements, annual savings by utilizing IC-ECG instead of fluoroscopy for port tip location and IC-ECG instead of post procedural CXR for PICC tip location, were €425.836,58 and €92.361,97 respectively, with an overall net total saving of €518.198,55.

Utilizing IC-ECG instead of X-ray guidance (CXR or fluoroscopy) for medium and long term CVAD tip location (PICC and port) has resulted in significant cost reduction. This strategy should strongly be considered for improving the cost-effectiveness of CVADs implantation.