RESUMEN
Background and study aims We aimed to perform an economic evaluation of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) and laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) for the treatment of achalasia. Materials and methods An economic cost-utility analysis was carried out over a time horizon of 1 year. Patients with achalasia who were admitted to the gastroenterology outpatient clinic of a public tertiary referral hospital were assigned to undergo POEM or LHM. The monetary amounts ââwere extracted from the intranet of the institution using microcosting. All costs associated with the procedure, hospitalization, clinical follow-up and resolution of therapeutic complications were included. The utility data were measured in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), which were estimated from the scores of a quality-of-life questionnaire. Results Forty patients (20 POEM patients and 20 LHM patients) were included. The final cost associated with POEM and LHM was US$â2,619.19â±â399.53 and US$â1,696.44â±â412.21, respectively ( P â<â0.001). However, the QALYs in the POEM group (0.434â±â0.215 vs 0.332â±â0.222, P â=â0.397) were slightly higher than those in the LHM group.âThe incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) suggested that an additional US$â9,046.41/QALY gained was required when using POEM. Conclusion For the treatment of achalasia in the public health system, POEM appears to be more cost-effective than LHM in the short term.
RESUMEN
This study investigates the correlation between SBP and repeated paracentesis, and its relation to MELD score, in cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites in an outpatient setting. Through the data base, 148 cirrhotic patients were prospectively included in the study with refractory ascites undergoing relief paracentesis from March 2012 to March 2013. Demographics data, etiology of liver disease, MELD score, and inscription on the waiting list for liver transplantation were analyzed. The ascites removed was analyzed through cellular count and culture for the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. The cirrhotic patients underwent a total of 854 paracentesis procedures in the ambulatory setting during the study period. Eighty-one patients (54%) were on the waiting list for liver transplantation. Patients on the liver transplant list had higher associated costs due to a higher total number of outpatient paracentesis procedures (394.7 ± 512.3 versus 291.7 ± 384.7) and a higher volume drained per procedure (6.5 ± 8.5 versus 4.8 ± 6.4). There were 28 episodes of SBP (3.3%) diagnosed in 24 patients. In conclusion, the prevalence of asymptomatic SBP in cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites undergoing repeated paracentesis is low. MELD score is not related to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.