Analytical approach:
This economic analysis was based on a cohort study of 101 patients. The time horizon was the length of the hospital stay. The authors did not state the perspective.
Effectiveness data:
The clinical estimates were from one cohort study, which used an intention-to-treat approach. The first 51 (median age 65 years and 76.5% men) of 101 consecutive patients were allocated to the LMWH group and the next 50 (median age 67 years and 82% men) were allocated to the warfarin group. The primary clinical endpoint was access-site complications, which included pain, bruising, lump, bleeding, or any other site-related problem that needed treatment. A secondary endpoint was the success rate for the procedure.
Monetary benefit and utili:
ty valuations:
None.
Measure of benefit:
No summary benefit measure was used. The key clinical endpoint was the percentage of patients with access-site complications.
Cost data:
The economic analysis included the costs of medicines and transoesophageal echocardiogram. The unit costs were from official UK sources. The data on resource use were from the sample of patients enrolled in the clinical study. All costs were reported in UK pounds sterling (£).
Analysis of uncertainty:
: A statistical analysis of the difference in the clinical and economic outcomes between the groups was conducted.