Cost of post-operative intravenous iron therapy in total lower limb arthroplasty: a retrospective, matched cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Requirements for allogeneic red cell transfusion after total lower limb arthroplasty are still high (20-50%), and post-operative intravenous iron has been shown to reduce transfusion requirements for this surgery. We performed a cost analysis to ascertain whether this alternative is also likely to be cost-effective.

Materials and methods

Data from 182 matched-pairs of total lower limb arthroplasty patients, managed with a restrictive transfusion protocol and without (control group) or with post-operative intravenous iron (iron group), were retrospectively reviewed. Acquisition and administration costs of iron (iron sucrose or ferric carboxymaltose) and allogeneic red cell concentrates, haemoglobin measurements, and prolonged stay in hospital were used for blood ma

SUBMITTER: Munoz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3926727 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature