A Cost-analysis Model Comparing Reusable and Single-use Bronchoscopes in an Interventional Pulmonology Unit:...

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Health Economics
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Reusable flexible bronchoscopes (RFB) and single-use flexible bronchoscopes (SUFB) offer equivalent clinical outcomes.
• Rising healthcare expenditures necessitate economic evaluations of bronchoscopy procedures.
• Factors like procedure volume, equipment fleet size, and SUFB model significantly influence cost-effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comparative cost analysis between RFBs and SUFBs.
• To identify the cost-effectiveness threshold for adopting RFBs over SUFBs.
• To evaluate the impact of procedural volume and fleet size on the economic comparison.

Main Methods:

• A single-center, observational study was conducted at Rouen University Hospital.
• Micro-costing was employed to estimate costs associated with RFB (equipment, maintenance, reprocessing) and SUFB (purchase, disposal).
• Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the influence of procedure volume and fleet size.

Main Results:

• The cost per procedure was €195.72 (endoscopy room) and €231.48 (operating room) for RFBs.
• The median cost for SUFBs ranged from €208 to €336, varying by model.
• RFBs demonstrated cost-effectiveness when annual procedure volume reached at least 913, contingent on fleet size and SUFB model.

Conclusions:

• RFBs present a more cost-effective solution for high-volume bronchoscopy settings.
• The optimal choice between RFB and SUFB depends on institutional factors, including procedure volume and equipment availability.
• A hybrid approach utilizing both RFBs and SUFBs may be advantageous in facilities with diverse procedural demands.