Cost saving by reloading the multiband ligator in endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation: A proposal for developing countries  

作　　者：Zaigham Abbas Lubna Rizvi Umair Syed Ahmed Khalid Mumtaz Wasim Jafri 

机构地区：[1]Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi 74800, Pakistan

出　　处：《World Journal of Gastroenterology》2008年第14期2222-2225,共4页世界胃肠病学杂志（英文版）

摘　　要：AIM:To assess the cost savings of reloading the multiband ligator in endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation (EVL) used on the same patient for subsequent sessions. METHODS:This single centre retrospective descriptive study analysed patients undergoing variceal ligation at a tertiary care centre between 1st January, 2003 and 30th June, 2006. The multiband ligator was reloaded with six hemorrhoidal bands using hemorrhoidal ligator for the second and subsequent sessions. Analysis of cost saving was done for the number of follow-up sessions for the variceal eradication. RESULTS:A total of 261 patients underwent at least one session of endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation between January 2003 and June 2006. Out of 261, 108 patients (males 67) agreed to follow the eradication program and underwent repeated sessions. A total of 304 sessions was performed with 2.81 sessions per patient on average. Thirty-two patients could not complete the programm. In 76 patients (70%), variceal obliteration was achieved. The ratio of the costs for the session with reloaded ligator versus a session with a new ligator was 1:2.37. Among the patients who completed esophageal varices eradication, cost saving with reloaded ligator was 58%. CONCLUSION:EVL using reloaded multiband ligators for the follow-up sessions on patients undergoing variceal eradication is a cost saving procedure. Reloading the ligator thus is recommended especially for developing countries where most of the patients are not health insured.AIM：To assess the cost savings of reloading the multiband ligator in endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation （EVL） used on the same patient for subsequent sessions. METHODS：This single centre retrospective descriptive study analysed patients undergoing variceal ligation at a tertiary care centre between 1st January, 2003 and 30th June, 2006. The multiband ligator was reloaded with six hemorrhoidal bands using hemorrhoidal ligator for the second and subsequent sessions. Analysis of cost saving was done for the number of follow-up sessions for the variceal eradication. RESULTS：A total of 261 patients underwent at least one session of endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation between January 2003 and June 2006. Out of 261, 108 patients （males 67） agreed to follow the eradication program and underwent repeated sessions. A total of 304 sessions was performed with 2.81 sessions per patient on average. Thirty-two patients could not complete the programm. In 76 patients （70%）, variceal obliteration was achieved. The ratio of the costs for the session with reloaded ligator versus a session with a new ligator was 1：2.37. Among the patients who completed esophageal varices eradication, cost saving with reloaded ligator was 58%. CONCLUSION：EVL using reloaded multiband ligators for the follow-up sessions on patients undergoing variceal eradication is a cost saving procedure. Reloading the ligator thus is recommended especially for developing countries where most of the patients are not health insured.

关 键 词：Esophageal varices RELOADING Multiband ligator ERADICATION Cost saving 

分 类 号：R571.3[医药卫生—消化系统]