scholarly journals The Clinical Impact and Cost Implications of Endoscopic Ultrasound on the Use of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in a Canadian University Hospital

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nassir Alhayaf ◽  
Eoin Lalor ◽  
Vincent Bain ◽  
John McKaigney ◽  
Gurpal Singh Sandha
Keyword(s):  
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography ◽  
Endoscopic Ultrasound ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Clinical Impact ◽  
First Year ◽  
Endoscopic Retrograde ◽  
Cost Implications ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Biliary Imaging

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a safe alternative to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for diagnostic biliary imaging in choledocholithiasis. Evidence linking a decline in diagnostic ERCP with the introduction of EUS in clinical practice is limited.OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical impact and cost implications of a new EUS program on diagnostic ERCP at a tertiary referral centre.PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of data collected during the first year of EUS at the University of Alberta Hospital (Edmonton, Alberta). Patients were referred for ERCP because of suspicion of choledocholithiasis based on clinical, biochemical and/or radiological parameters. If they were assessed to have an intermediate probability of choledocholithiasis, EUS was performed first. ERCP was performed if EUS suggested choledocholithiasis, whereas patients were clinically followed for six months if their EUS was normal. Cost data were assessed from a third-party payer perspective, and cost savings were expressed in terms of ERCP procedures avoided.RESULTS: Over 12 months, 90 patients (63 female, mean age 58 years) underwent EUS for suspected biliary tract abnormalities. EUS suggested choledocholithiasis in 20 patients (22%), and this was confirmed by ERCP in 17 of the 20 patients. EUS was normal in 69 patients, and none underwent a subsequent ERCP during a six-month follow-up period. One patient had pancreatic cancer and did not undergo ERCP. The sensitivity and specificity of EUS for choledocholithiasis were 100% and 96%, respectively. A total of 440 ERCP procedures were performed over the same 12-month period, suggesting that EUS resulted in a 14% reduction in ERCP procedures (70 of 510). There were no complications of EUS. The cost of 90 EUS procedures was $42,840, compared with $108,854 for 70 ERCP procedures. The cost savings for the first year were $66,014.CONCLUSION: EUS appears to be accurate, safe and cost effective in diagnostic biliary imaging for suspected choledocholithiasis. The impact of EUS is the avoidance of ERCP in selected cases, thereby preventing the risk of complications. Diagnostic ERCP should not be performed in centres and regions with physicians trained in EUS.

Pound Wise and Penny Foolish? Weight Loss and The Dynamics of Health Care Spending

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G Koch
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Health Care Spending ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Dynamic Measures ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Current estimates of obesity costs ignore the impact of future weight loss and gain, and may either over or underestimate economic consequences of weight loss. In light of this, I construct static and dynamic measures of medical costs associated with body mass index (BMI), to be balanced against the cost of one-time interventions. This study finds that ignoring the implications of weight loss and gain over time overstates the medical-cost savings of such interventions by an order of magnitude. When the relationship between spending and age is allowed to vary, weight-loss attempts appear to be cost-effective starting and ending with middle age. Some interventions recently proven to decrease weight may also be cost-effective.

scholarly journals Comparison of Two Management Strategies, "Endoscopy First" and "Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy First", for Patients with Gallbladder Stones and Intermediate Risk for Choledocholithiasis: Study Protocol for a Diagnostic Randomized Trial

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ausra Aleknaite ◽  
Gintaras Simutis ◽  
Juozas Stanaitis ◽  
Tomas Jucaitis ◽  
Mantas Drungilas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy ◽  
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography ◽  
Endoscopic Ultrasound ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiography ◽  
Intraoperative Cholangiography ◽  
Intermediate Risk ◽  
Endoscopic Retrograde ◽  
On Demand ◽  
Gallbladder Stones

Abstract Background: The optimal approach for patients with gallbladder stones and intermediate risk for choledocholithiasis still remains undetermined. Use of diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography should be minimized as it carries considerable risk of post-procedural complications. This study compares two different management strategies: intraoperative cholangiography and endoscopic ultrasound before laparoscopic cholecystectomy for patients with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis and intermediate risk for choledocholithiasis. Methods: It is a diagnostic randomized active-controlled single-centre clinical trial enrolling adult patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to symptomatic gallbladder stones with intermediate risk for choledocholithiasis. The risk for choledocholithiasis is calculated using an original prognostic score – Vilnius University Hospital Index. A total of 106 participants will be included and randomized into two groups. Evaluation of bile ducts using endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography on demand will be performed before laparoscopic cholecystectomy for one arm (“Endoscopy first”). Intraoperative cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy and postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography on demand will be administered in another arm (“Cholecystectomy first”). Postoperative follow-up is 6 months. The primary endpoint is the length of hospital stay. Secondary endpoints will include accuracy of the different management strategies, adverse events of interventions, duct clearance and technical success of interventions (intraoperative cholangiography, endoscopic ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography), costs of treatment. Discussion: This trial is planned determine which strategy is better approach for a patient with intermediate common bile duct stones risk and to define a simple to calculate and safe algorithm on managing choledocholithiasis. Trial registration: The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identification number NCT03658863.

Liberalization at Any Cost? Implications of IMF Policy for Sovereignty and Stability in East Asia

2000 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-56
Author(s):  
Michael Spaulding
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
International Political Economy ◽  
Free Market ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Financial Governance ◽  
State Governance ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Cost Implications ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

Globalization pits pressures for liberalization against state claims to political and economic sovereignty. Less powerful states in particular face strong pressure from the international trade regime to liberalize their economies irrespective of the impact on domestic stability and national goals. East Asia has been a hold-out against the global trend toward liberalization. This paper shows that the bail-out package demanded by the IMF in 1997 during the East Asian financial crisis imposed unprecedented restrictions on state governance without regard for long-term implications. The paper argues that the IMF's motivation was to harmonize financial governance of the affected economies with Western practices. However, the cost of this initiative to the stability of the region has been overlooked. The East Asian region has carved out for itself a unique niche in the international political economy by resisting penetration of Western finance capital. Already governments have fallen and deep resentments have been sewn over the reversal. More seriously for the future, assumptions that free-market liberalism can be imposed top-down ignore the extent to which economic institutions and preferences are embedded in culture.

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