Abstract
Background
Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) was considered the gold standard approach in recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax, with unanimous consensus of opinions. The cost-effectiveness analysis in the surgical treatment of recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) was carried out comparing VATS with muscle-sparing axillary minithoracotomy (MSAM).
Methods
Between July 2006 and October 2012 we treated 56 patients with a second episode of PSP by VATS or open approach. Time of intervention, prolonged air leaks, duration of pleural drainage, length of hospitalization, and long-term morbidity were evaluated, establishing the relationship between costs and quality-adjusted life for each technique.
Results
The assessment of pain and threshold of tenderness was more favorable in VATS in respect to MSAM during the 5 years of follow-up (p = 0.004 and <0.001 at 1st year; p = 0.006 and <0.002 at 5th year). The minimally invasive method was less expensive than axillary minithoracotomy (2443.44 € vs. 3170.80 €). The quality-adjusted life expectancy of VATS was better than that of MSAM (57.00 vs. 49.2 at 60 months) as well as the quality-adjusted life year (0.03 at 1st year and 0.13 at 5th year). Incremental cost per life year gained of VATS versus MSAM was between 24,245.33 € (1st year) and 5776.31 € (5th year), making it advantageous at 3rd, 4th, and 5th years.
Conclusions
VATS compared to MSAM in the treatment of a second episode of PSP ensured undoubted clinical advantages associated with significant cost savings.
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Divisi, D., Di Leonardo, G. & Crisci, R. Vats Versus Axillary Minithoracotomy in the Management of the Second Episode of Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Cost–Benefit Analysis. World J Surg 40, 2171–2177 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-016-3558-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-016-3558-2