According to new research published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, performing more transradial, same-day percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) not only benefits patients but is also associated with less complications and could result in potential savings of $300 million annually.
PCI is one of the leading expenditures for cardiovascular procedures in the US costing approximately $10 billion each year. Very little has been done so far to reduce these costs.
See Also: Is PCI Safe for Patients Undergoing TAVR?
However, the study's lead author Amit P. Amin, MD, MSc, assistant professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and his team have identified a mechanism that could enable hospitals to improve their efficiency and lower costs while improving PCI outcomes at the same time. They believe that hospitals that perform more same-day, transradial PCIs could achieve a win-win for both patients and hospitals as they would be able to maximise patient benefits and reduce costs.
During the study, the researchers examined different PCI approaches and care pathways. Nearly 280,000 patients undergoing PCI and eligible for same-day discharge were included in this analysis. Findings show that the cost of arm access approach with same-day discharge was much lower than the cost associated with leg access and overnight stay. Thus, by shifting practice by even 30 percent for same-day arm access procedures could help hospitals save approximately $1 million and if this practice was followed across the country, PCI costs could be cut down by nearly $300 million annually.
"One hope is that professional medical organisations will take these findings into account when developing new PCI treatment guidelines, and consider the benefits for both the patient and the health care system as a whole," Amin said. "Also, we need to continue to pursue research like this -- in all areas of medicine--that demonstrates ways in which higher quality care can be delivered at a lower cost, to elevate the value of health care that our patients deserve.
Source: American College of Cardiology
Image Credit: Food and Drug Administration
References:
Amin AP, Patterson M, House JA, et al. Costs associated with access site
and same-day discharge among Medicare beneficiaries undergoing
percutaneous coronary intervention: an evaluation of the current
percutaneous coronary intervention care pathways in the United States. J
Am Coll Cardiol Intv. 2017;10:342-351.
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PCI, percutaneous coronary interventions, Radial Access, cardiovascular procedures
According to new research published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, performing more transradial, same-day percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) not only benefits patients but is also associated with less complications and could result in poten
