BACKGROUND: To prevent the potentially fatal consequences of intracranial aneurysmal rupture, exclusion from the circulation can be achieved through an endovascular approach. However, the elevated cost of such procedures can be prohibitive for patients in low resource settings. The objective of this study is to identify the factors that modify the cost of the materials used for endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent an endovascular treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysms between June 2013 and June 2019 in a hospital located in Northeast Mexico were reviewed. Descriptive statistics of the cost of consumable materials used during the procedure was performed, and a regression model was undertaken to examine potential associations between the studied variables and total cost of the intervention. RESULTS: A total of 128 patients were included in this analysis. The average intervention cost was $21,687.22 USD. The variables associated with increased material cost were aneurysm size (p = 0.03), aneurysm neck size (p < 0.001), and aneurysm localization in the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery (p = 0.01). Other variables such as patient age and sex, other aneurysm localizations, laterality of the aneurysm, performing neurointerventionalist, and presence of intervention complications were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study that examines the variables associated with the material cost of endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Awareness of which elements are important drivers of materials' costs provides a strategic advantage when making hospital administrative decisions and attempting to improve access to endovascular treatment in countries of low income.
BACKGROUND: To prevent the potentially fatal consequences of intracranial aneurysmal rupture, exclusion from the circulation can be achieved through an endovascular approach. However, the elevated cost of such procedures can be prohibitive for patients in low resource settings. The objective of this study is to identify the factors that modify the cost of the materials used for endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent an endovascular treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysms between June 2013 and June 2019 in a hospital located in Northeast Mexico were reviewed. Descriptive statistics of the cost of consumable materials used during the procedure was performed, and a regression model was undertaken to examine potential associations between the studied variables and total cost of the intervention. RESULTS: A total of 128 patients were included in this analysis. The average intervention cost was $21,687.22 USD. The variables associated with increased material cost were aneurysm size (p = 0.03), aneurysm neck size (p < 0.001), and aneurysm localization in the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery (p = 0.01). Other variables such as patient age and sex, other aneurysm localizations, laterality of the aneurysm, performing neurointerventionalist, and presence of intervention complications were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study that examines the variables associated with the material cost of endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Awareness of which elements are important drivers of materials' costs provides a strategic advantage when making hospital administrative decisions and attempting to improve access to endovascular treatment in countries of low income.
Authors: Joris A Broeders; Usama Ahmed Ali; Andrew J Molyneux; Wojciech Poncyljusz; Jean Raymond; Phillip M White; Brendan Steinfort Journal: J Neurointerv Surg Date: 2015-09-10 Impact factor: 5.836
Authors: Olivier N Naggara; Phil M White; François Guilbert; Daniel Roy; Alain Weill; Jean Raymond Journal: Radiology Date: 2010-07-15 Impact factor: 11.105
Authors: Nohra el-Chalouhi; Pascal M Jabbour; Stavropoula I Tjoumakaris; Robert M Starke; Aaron S Dumont; Haisong Liu; Robert Rosenwasser; Sedeek El Moursi; L Fernando Gonzalez Journal: World Neurosurg Date: 2013-03-06 Impact factor: 2.104
Authors: Pietro Familiari; Nicolai Maldaner; Adisa Kursumovic; Stefan A Rath; Peter Vajkoczy; Antonino Raco; Julius Dengler Journal: Neurosurgery Date: 2015-11 Impact factor: 4.654
Authors: Justin R Mascitelli; Henry Moyle; Eric K Oermann; Maritsa F Polykarpou; Aanand A Patel; Amish H Doshi; Yakov Gologorsky; Joshua B Bederson; Aman B Patel Journal: J Neurointerv Surg Date: 2014-06-04 Impact factor: 5.836