Prospective randomized trial using cost-utility analysis of early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute gallbladder disease.
BACKGROUND
This randomized controlled trial compared the cost-utility of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy with that for conventional management of newly diagnosed acute gallbladder disease.


METHODS
Adults admitted to hospital with a first episode of biliary colic or acute cholecystitis were randomized to an early intervention group (36 patients, operation within 72 h of admission) or a conventional group (36, elective cholecystectomy 3 months later). Costs were measured from a National Health Service and societal perspective. Quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gains were calculated 1 month after surgery.


RESULTS
The mean(s.d.) total costs of care were pound 5911(2445) for the early group and pound 6132(3244) for the conventional group (P = 0.928), Mean(s.d.) societal costs were pound 1322(1402) and pound 1461(1532) for the early and conventional groups respectively (P = 0.732). Visual analogue scale scores of health were 72.94 versus 84.63 (P = 0.012) and the mean(s.d.) QALY gain was 0.85(0.26) versus 0.93(0.13) respectively (P = 0.262). The incremental cost per additional QALY gained favoured conventional management at a cost of pound 3810 per QALY gained.


CONCLUSIONS
In this pragmatic trial, the cost-utilities of both the early and conventional approaches were similar, but the incremental cost per additional QALY gained favoured conventional management.
Macafee
D A L
DA
Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre Biomedical Research Unit, Nottingham University Hospitals, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
Humes
D J
DJ
Bouliotis
G
G
Beckingham
I J
IJ
Whynes
D K
DK
Lobo
D N
DN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000191:economics*; D041881:Cholecystitis, Acute / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery; D003085:Colic / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome