Analytical approach:
The economic evaluation was based on a 26 patient observational study. The study was conducted between April 1997 and April 1998, in a single hospital where a single surgeon saw all included patients. The study perspective was not explicitly stated, but only costs for the hospital were included, which implied a hospital perspective.
Effectiveness data:
The study was a retrospective observational. Between April 1997 and April 1998, 16 patients were admitted and treated with a self-expanding stent. An unselected group of 10 patients admitted under the same consultant during the preceding 12 months provided the comparator group. Limited baseline characteristics were presented, such as age range, mean age and male to female ratio. The primary outcome was hospital length of stay. In addition, primary stenting success rate and mortality were also reported.
Monetary benefit and utility valuations:
Not relevant.
Measure of benefit:
A summary measure of benefit was not presented.
Cost data:
Costs included in the evaluation were calculated according to NHS rates from the study hospital's finance department. Cost analysis included total hospital stay, radiology, surgery, and equipment and running costs. The price year was not stated. All costs were reported in pounds sterling.
Analysis of uncertainty:
No analysis of uncertainty was conducted, no variances reported and no statistical comparison undertaken. A subgroup analysis of patients who had curative treatment by anterior resection in the stenting group, or had undergone an initial Hartmann's operation followed by reversal, in the standard surgical decompression group, was conducted.