OBJECTIVE: To calculate the cost-effectiveness of tension-free inguinal hernia repair with mosquito net mesh in the Western Region of Ghana. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Four district hospitals in the Western Region of Ghana. PATIENTS: A total of 113 referred or presenting patients from rural areas with inguinal hernias of various sizes. INTERVENTION: Lichtenstein method of tension-free repair using mosquito net mesh by European and African surgeons. Main Outcome Measure Disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) averted with counterfactual definitions based on precedent and expert opinion. RESULTS: All operations were performed as day cases, with 81 of the patients (71.7%) under local anesthesia and few complications. An average of 9.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.0-10.7) DALYs were averted per person, with a total of 1052 averted in the study. Average cost per patient was $120.02 (95% CI, $117.66-$122.39) from a provider perspective and $102.88 ($88.47-$117.29) from a patient perspective. Cost-effectiveness was $12.88 per DALY averted (95% CI, $10.98-$14.78), which is well below the Ghanaian per capita gross national income ($590). Results were robust to sensitivity analysis and may be refined as further work is done on the burden of disease due to hernias in Africa. CONCLUSIONS: Inguinal hernia repair was cost-effective in the Western Region of Ghana through international collaboration. Research in other settings should test the generalizability of results.
OBJECTIVE: To calculate the cost-effectiveness of tension-free inguinal hernia repair with mosquito net mesh in the Western Region of Ghana. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Four district hospitals in the Western Region of Ghana. PATIENTS: A total of 113 referred or presenting patients from rural areas with inguinal hernias of various sizes. INTERVENTION: Lichtenstein method of tension-free repair using mosquito net mesh by European and African surgeons. Main Outcome Measure Disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) averted with counterfactual definitions based on precedent and expert opinion. RESULTS: All operations were performed as day cases, with 81 of the patients (71.7%) under local anesthesia and few complications. An average of 9.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.0-10.7) DALYs were averted per person, with a total of 1052 averted in the study. Average cost per patient was $120.02 (95% CI, $117.66-$122.39) from a provider perspective and $102.88 ($88.47-$117.29) from a patient perspective. Cost-effectiveness was $12.88 per DALY averted (95% CI, $10.98-$14.78), which is well below the Ghanaian per capita gross national income ($590). Results were robust to sensitivity analysis and may be refined as further work is done on the burden of disease due to hernias in Africa. CONCLUSIONS: Inguinal hernia repair was cost-effective in the Western Region of Ghana through international collaboration. Research in other settings should test the generalizability of results.
Authors: Caris E Grimes; Rebekah S L Law; Eric S Borgstein; Nyeno C Mkandawire; Christopher B D Lavy Journal: World J Surg Date: 2012-01 Impact factor: 3.352
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Authors: Matthew A R Stokes; Glenn D Guest; Perista Mamadi; Westin Seta; Noel Yaubihi; Grace Karawiga; Billy Naidi; David A K Watters Journal: World J Surg Date: 2017-03 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Jessica H Beard; Lawrence B Oresanya; Michael Ohene-Yeboah; Rochelle A Dicker; Hobart W Harris Journal: World J Surg Date: 2013-03 Impact factor: 3.352