The Cost of Materials for Intra-Arterial Thrombectomy

Abstract

This paper reports the cost of endovascular materials used for the treatment of large-vessel ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation according to the angiographic score and clinical results at three months. From November 2009 to July 2011, 57 ischemic patients (mean age, 64.6 ±13.8 years) with anterior large vessel occlusion were included. Mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on admission was 18.4 ± 4.9. Mean duration of symptoms until the arterial puncture was 207±67 minutes. Recanalization was assessed using the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score. Patient selection was performed on a non-enhanced CT scanner. According to the TIMI final angiographic score and the modified Rankin score (mRS) at three months, we determined the cost of the material used. Complete (n=12, TIMI grade 3) or partial perfusion (n=35, TIMI grade 2) was achieved in 47 (82.5%) lesions. At three months, 33.3% (n=19) had a mRS score ≤ 2. The mean cost of the material used in the operative room was 5018±2402 euro.

Intra-arterial thrombolysis presents a substantial initial cost and the long-term economic impact has to be evaluated. Our health system has to take the price of these new technologies into account for future medical choices and urgently evaluate them in randomized controlled trials.