Intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) has been shown to improve coronary artery patency and reduce the rates of recurrent myocardial ischemia and its sequelae in selected patients when used within 24 hours of acute myocardial infarction. The economic implications of prophylactic IABP use are unknown. We obtained hospital bills for 102 patients enrolled in the Randomized IABP Trial (56%) and converted charges to costs using each hospital's Medicare cost report. In-hospital costs for patients who had 48 hours of IABP were compared with those of patients who did not. The costs of angiographic and clinical complications were determined. Small differences in clinical and angiographic characteristics existed between patients in the economic substudy and the overall population, but overall angiographic and clinical outcomes were comparable. Costs for patients who had IABP versus control patients were similar: mean $22,357 +/- $14,369 versus $19,211 +/- $8,414, median (25th and 75th percentiles) $17,903 ($15,787, $22,147) versus $17,913 ($15,144, $21,433), p = 0.45. Hospital costs were higher with the development of recurrent ischemia: mean $23,125 +/- $7,690 versus $20,416 +/- $12,449, median $21,069 ($17,896, $26,885) versus $17,492 ($14,892, $20,998) p = 0.02. Patients who had an adverse clinical event (death, stroke, reinfarction, and emergency revascularization) also had higher hospital costs: mean $25,598 +/- $10,024 versus $19,790 +/- $12,045, median $21,877 ($18,380, $28,049) versus $17,364 ($14,773, $20,779), p = 0.002. The prophylactic use of IABP in patients at high risk of infarct artery reocclusion within 24 hours of acute myocardial infarction provides sustained clinical benefit without substantially increasing hospital costs.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Combined accelerated tissue-plasminogen activator and platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa integrin receptor blockade with Integrilin in acute myocardial infarction. Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging trial. IMPACT-AMI Investigators.

BACKGROUND: Platelet activation and aggregation may be key components of thrombolytic failure to restore and maintain perfusion in acute myocardial infarction. We performed a placebo-controlled, dose-ranging trial of Integrilin, a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation, with heparin, aspirin, and accelerated alteplase. METHODS AND RESULTS: We assigned 132 patients in a 2:1 ratio to receive a bolus and continuous infusion of one of six Integrilin doses or placebo. Another 48 patients were randomized in a 3:1, double-blind fashion to receive the highest Integrilin dose from the first phase or placebo. All patients received accelerated alteplase, aspirin, and intravenous heparin infusion; all but two groups also received an intravenous heparin bolus. The highest Integrilin dose group from the nonrandomized phase and the randomized patients were pooled for analysis and compared with placebo-treated patients. The primary end point was Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade 3 flow at 90-minute angiography. Secondary end points were time to ST-segment recovery, an in-hospital composite (death, reinfarction, stroke, revascularization procedures, new heart failure, or pulmonary edema), and bleeding variables. The highest Integrilin dose groups had more complete reperfusion (TIMI grade 3 flow, 66% versus 39% for placebo-treated patients; P = .006) and a shorter median time to ST-segment recovery (65 versus 116 minutes for placebo; P = .05). The groups had similar rates of the composite end point (43% versus 42% for placebo-treated patients) and severe bleeding (4% versus 5%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence and speed of reperfusion can be enhanced when a potent inhibitor of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa integrin receptor, such as Integrilin, is combined with accelerated alteplase, aspirin, and intravenous heparin.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Publications concerning costs of various cardiovascular procedures and drugs.

The following is a compendium of economic articles considered to be the most important and informative in the field of mechanical and pharmacologic treatment of coronary artery disease. This reference list was compiled from the literature and the MEDLINE database and includes citations before 1996.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

PubMed1997