One balloon, one stent: an effective cost-containment strategy for elective stent deployment

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Interventions
• Medical Device Technology
• Health Economics

Background:

• Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) involve multiple components, potentially increasing procedural costs and resource utilization.
• Optimizing procedural efficiency is crucial for cost containment in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a cost-containment strategy using an integrated system for stent procedures.
• To compare resource utilization and clinical outcomes between an integrated and a conventional approach.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study comparing an integrated system (Stablizer guidewire, Brite-Tip guiding catheter, Titan balloon catheter) with conventional components.
• Assessment of balloon usage, procedural success, and non-stent-related resource utilization.
• Clinical follow-up for stent thrombosis and target vessel revascularization.

Main Results:

• The integrated strategy significantly reduced balloon use (1.3 vs. 2.1, P < 0.01) and overall non-stent-related costs ($747 vs. $1,093, P < 0.01).
• No significant differences in procedural success (100% in both groups), lesion characteristics, or post-stent luminal diameter were observed.
• One-month follow-up showed no subacute stent thrombosis or target vessel revascularization.

Conclusions:

• An integrated system utilizing a single balloon catheter for predilatation and post-stent deployment effectively reduces costs.
• This cost-containment strategy maintains high procedural and clinical success rates in stent procedures.
• The integrated approach offers significant economic benefits without compromising patient outcomes.