Abstract

MONTES, J. et al. Home versus inpatient therapy for deep venous thrombosis: A cost-comparative analysis. An. Med. Interna (Madrid) [online]. 2005, vol.22, n.8, pp.369-372. ISSN 0212-7199.

Aims: To compare the home-care management of deep vein thromboses (DVT) by a Home Care Unit (HCU) respect to conventional inpatient treatment. Methods: Twenty-one patients with a doppler-ecography diagnosis of DVT were managed by the HCU during 2002. In 7 out 13 a concomitant diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) was made by lung scan. Median age was 81 years, 52% were women and all, except one case, showed severe medical concomitant conditions. All patients received low-weight molecular heparin, followed by oral anticoagulants in 3 patients. No patients died and only one was hopitalized briefly due to a poor thrombosis-related pain control. Costs of this patient were added to those of HCU. A comparison was made between ambulatory and hospitalary costs for EP and DVT. Pharmacological treatment costs were calculated for a 10-days period. Results: The length of inhospital stay was 1 day for HCU vs. 8 days (DVT) and 13 days (EP). There was a estimated cost-saving of 1680 € per patient. Conclusions: The management of DVT in patients with serious conditions, can be accomplished safely and in a cost-saving manner by a Home Care Unit.

Keywords : Deep vein thrombosis; Cost-effectiveness; Low-molecular weight heparin; Outpatient treatment.

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