Analysis of direct costs of decompressive craniectomy in victims of traumatic brain injury

• Autor(a) principal: Badke,Guilherme Lellis
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Outros Autores: Araujo,João Luiz Vitorino, Miura,Flávio Key, Guirado,Vinicius Monteiro de Paula, Saade,Nelson, Paiva,Aline Lariessy Campos, Avelar,Tiago Marques, Pedrozo,Charles Alfred Grander, Veiga,José Carlos Esteves
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2018000400257
• topic: decompressive craniectomy; brain injuries; cost and cost analysis; intracranial pressure

ABSTRACT Background: Decompressive craniectomy is a procedure required in some cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI). This manuscript evaluates the direct costs and outcomes of decompressive craniectomy for TBI in a developing country and describes the epidemiological profile. Methods: A retrospective study was performed using a five-year neurosurgical database, taking a sample of patients with TBI who underwent decompressive craniectomy. Several variables were considered and a formula was developed for calculating the total cost. Results: Most patients had multiple brain lesions and the majority (69.0%) developed an infectious complication. The general mortality index was 68.8%. The total cost was R$ 2,116,960.22 (US$ 661,550.06) and the mean patient cost was R$ 66,155.00 (US$ 20,673.44). Conclusions: Decompressive craniectomy for TBI is an expensive procedure that is also associated with high morbidity and mortality. This was the first study performed in a developing country that aimed to evaluate the direct costs. Prevention measures should be a priority.