The use of a surgical sealant (CoSeal) in cardiac and vascular reconstructive surgery: an economic analysis

Objective

We designed a study to estimate the economic impact of CoSeal Surgical Sealant for the prevention of anastomotic bleeding in cardiac and vascular surgery. We also explored the potential economic value of CoSeal as a means of inhibiting the formation of pericardial tissue adhesions.

Methods

A Delphi panel of 6 expert vascular and cardiac surgeons provided the assumptions and estimates needed to develop a decision analysis model to assess the impact of sealant on the costs associated with low- and high-risk forms of cardiac (valve replacement/reconstruction) and vascular (abdominal aortic aneurysm [AAA] repair, femoral bypass grafting) surgery. The primary outcome was incremental cost per patient.

Results

For valve repair/replacement surgery, sealant was expected to confer cost-savings in high-risk but not low-risk procedures. Predicted cost savings for high-risk AAA repairs were substantial, but minimal in the overall AAA group. Cost-savings were predicted for sealant use in all femoral-popliteal ePTFE bypass grafts, but in high-risk femoral-femoral ePTFE bypass grafts only.

Conclusion

According to our decision analysis model, routine use of surgical sealant in select subgroups may confer considerable economic benefits to health service budgets. Future research should aim at testing this model in a real-world hospital setting. Assessment of the value of CoSeal in the prevention of postsurgical adhesions showed that expert surgeons see a need for effective prophylaxis. Further research into the clinical and economic benefit of this intervention is required.