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Clinical Trial
. 1997 Mar;42(3):456-60; discussion 460-2.
doi: 10.1097/00005373-199703000-00013.

Cost-effective prevention of pulmonary embolus in high-risk trauma patients

K J Brasel  1 , D C Borgstrom, J A Weigelt
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Cost-effective prevention of pulmonary embolus in high-risk trauma patients

K J Brasel et al. J Trauma. 1997 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: To define the cost-effectiveness of screening ultrasound (US) and prophylactic inferior vena cava filters (VCF), approaches aimed at reducing the incidence of pulmonary embolus (PE) in high-risk trauma patients.

Design: Cost-effective analysis.

Materials and methods: We constructed a decision tree with three approaches for PE prevention: no intervention, US, and VCF. Probabilities in each subtree were taken from published data. Sensitivity analyses evaluated all assumptions, probabilities, and outcomes for effects on baseline conclusions.

Results: US is more cost-effective than VCF, with a cost/PE prevented of $46,300 compared with $93,700. The strategies become equally cost-effective only when VCF are placed in the radiology suite and length of stay is > or = 2 weeks.

Conclusions: US is the most cost-effective approach for PE prevention in high-risk trauma patients. VCF should be reserved for patients with an anticipated length of stay > or = 2 weeks who can safely have a filter placed in the radiology suite.

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