Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 23, 2026
Evaluation of a Novel Laser-assisted Coronary Anastomotic Connector - the Trinity Clip - in a Porcine Off-pump Bypass Model
Published on: November 24, 2014
Cost-efficacy modeling of catheter reuse for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
K H Mak1, M J Eisenberg, D S Eccleston
1Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Insights
Catheter reuse for coronary angioplasty may offer cost savings, but increased complications requiring urgent revascularization can negate these benefits. Careful management is key to realizing economic potential.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Interventions
- Health Economics
- Medical Device Management
Background:
- Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) catheters are frequently reused internationally.
- The cost-effectiveness of PTCA catheter reuse remains unevaluated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the range of cost savings associated with various strategies for reusing coronary angioplasty catheters.
- To evaluate the economic impact of PTCA catheter reuse.
Main Methods:
- Developed three theoretical models for catheter reuse based on Cleveland Clinic data.
- Calculated costs using observed data on balloon catheter usage, contrast agent volume, and urgent revascularization rates from a Canadian study.
Main Results:
- The median cost for single-use coronary angioplasty was $8,800 per patient.
- Catheter reuse savings varied: "best care" scenario saved $480 (5.5%), while "worst case" increased costs by $1,075 (12.2%).
- Sensitivity analyses highlighted the impact of revascularization rates and catheter costs on overall savings.
Conclusions:
- While reusing PTCA catheters can reduce in-hospital costs, increased complications necessitating urgent revascularization may eliminate savings.
- Avoiding complications and extended procedure times is crucial for the economic viability of catheter reuse.
- Successful reuse strategies could potentially be applied to other percutaneous coronary intervention equipment.
Objectives:
Our goal was to provide the range of cost savings associated with various catheter reuse strategies.
Background:
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty catheters are commonly reused in several countries outside the United States. However, the cost-effectiveness of such reuse strategies has not been evaluated.
Methods:
Three theoretical models of catheter reuse were constructed using the actual costs for treating patients with coronary angioplasty at the Cleveland Clinic. Costs were calculated based on the number of balloon catheters, the amount of contrast agent used and the rates for urgent revascularization that were observed in a prospective Canadian study on catheter reuse.
Results:
The median cost to treat a lesion by means of coronary angioplasty using new catheters was $8,800 per patient. In reuse models, the potential to reduce cost depended on the number of balloon catheters used and the rates of urgent revascularization. The "best care" scenario offered a potential savings of $480 (5.5% of total in-hospital cost), whereas the "worst case" scenario resulted in an increased cost of $1,075 (12.2% of total in-hospital cost) compared with the single-use strategy. Cost of the "likely case" scenario was similar to that of the single-use strategy. Sensitivity analyses identified the different rates of revascularization and cost of balloon catheters required to offset potential savings in each strategy.
Conclusions:
Although reusing coronary angioplasty catheters may reduce total in-hospital costs, even a modest increase in complications requiring urgent revascularization may offset any potential savings. However, if an increase in complications and procedure time can be avoided, the reuse strategy has significant economic potential and, ultimately, may be extended to other percutaneous coronary interventional equipment.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview
01:27Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care