Pancreatic-stent placement for prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis: a cost-effectiveness analysis

Abstract

Background: Controlled trials support pancreatic-stent placement as an effective intervention for the prevention of post-ERCP acute pancreatitis in high-risk patients.

Objective: To perform a decision analysis to evaluate the most cost-effective strategy for preventing post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Design: Cost-effectiveness analysis.

Setting: Patients undergoing ERCP.

Interventions: Three competing strategies were evaluated in a decision analysis model from a third-party-payer perspective in hypothetical patients undergoing ERCP. In strategy I, none of the patients had pancreatic-stent placement. Strategy II had only those patients identified to be at high risk for post-ERCP, and, in strategy III, all patients underwent prophylactic stent placement. Probabilities of developing post-ERCP pancreatitis and the risk reduction by placement of a pancreatic stent were obtained from published information. Cost estimates were obtained from Medicare reimbursement rates.

Main outcome measurements: Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of different strategies.

Results: Strategy I was the least-expensive strategy but yielded the least number of life years. Strategy II yielded the highest number of years of life, with an ICER of $11,766 per year of life saved, and strategy III was dominated by strategy II.

Limitations: Indirect costs and pharmacologic prophylaxis were not considered in this analysis.

Conclusions: Pancreatic-stent placement for the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis in high-risk patients is a cost-effective strategy.