Gabriel I. Barbash

New Technology and Health Care Costs — The Case of Robot-Assisted Surgery

Technological innovation in health care is an important driver of cost growth. Doctors and patients often embrace new modes of treatment before their merits and weaknesses are fully understood. These technologies can lead to increases in costs, either because they are simply more expensive than previous treatments or because their introduction leads to an expansion in the types and numbers of patients treated. We examined these patterns as they apply to the case of robot-assisted surgery. Robotic surgical devices allow a surgeon at a console to operate remote-controlled robotic arms, which may facilitate the performance of laparoscopic procedures. Laparoscopic surgery, .xa0.xa0.

Randomized controlled trial of late in-hospital angiography and angioplasty versus conservative management after treatment with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in acute myocardial infarction

Although both the European Cooperative Study Group and the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction IIB trial indicated that angiography and angioplasty as routine measures after thrombolytic treatment do not improve clinical outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction, the potential benefit of angioplasty may have been negated by the fact that the procedure was performed too soon (less than 32 hours) after admission. A similar study was designed in which delayed invasive treatment was compared with conservative treatment in 201 patients with acute myocardial infarction given recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator. The 97 patients randomized to the invasive group underwent routine coronary angiography and angioplasty 5 +/- 2 days after thrombolytic therapy, whereas the 104 patients randomized to the conservative group underwent angiography only for recurrent postinfarction angina or exercise-induced ischemia. Baseline characteristics of both groups were similar. In the invasive group, 92 patients underwent angiography, 49 angioplasty and 11 coronary artery bypass surgery. In the conservative group, 40 patients experienced early ischemia, 39 underwent angiography, 20 angioplasty and 4 coronary artery bypass surgery. Reinfarction rate and preservation of left ventricular function at discharge or 8 weeks after discharge did not differ in the 2 groups. Total mortality after a mean follow-up of 10 months was 8 of 97 in the invasive and 4 of 104 in the conservative groups (p = 0.15). However, if only patients who died after the timing of the scheduled protocol catheterization in the invasive arm were included, mortality was 5 of 94 and 0 of 100 in the invasive and conservative treatment groups, respectively (p = 0.02). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Correlation of baseline plasminogen activator inhibitor activity with patency of the infarct artery after thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction

Increased levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) have recently been described in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). To correlate PAI levels to patency of infarct arteries after thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA), 125 consecutive patients with AMI were examined. Blood levels of fibrinogen, plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and PAI were measured before treatment initiation, 10 minutes after completion of rt-PA infusion and 24 and 48 hours after treatment. Coronary angiography, performed in all patients 72 hours after beginning rt-PA infusion, revealed patent infarct arteries in 97 patients and occluded infarct arteries in 28 patients. Pretreatment levels of PAI were significantly higher in patients with occluded infarct arteries (18.0 +/- 11.5 vs 10.5 +/- 9.3 IU/ml, p less than 0.01). Conceivably, higher levels of PAI may interfere with the natural thrombolytic process and make pharmacologic thrombolytic intervention less effective.

Improved Survival but not Left Ventricular Function with Early and Prehospital Treatment with Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Acute Myocardial Infarction

One hundred ninety patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were treated with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) 2.0 +/- 0.8 hours after the onset of symptoms. Eighty-seven patients were enrolled via mobile intensive care units and 103 through the emergency ward. Patients who were enrolled via the mobile intensive care units were randomized to immediate, prehospital treatment initiation, or to delayed, in-hospital treatment initiation. All 190 patients except 2 underwent delayed coronary angiography and, when indicated, angioplasty at 72 hours after enrollment. Patients treated within 2 hours and those treated 2 to 4 hours after symptom onset had similar preservation of left ventricular function, and similar prevalence of congestive heart failure at discharge. Patients treated within 2 hours of symptom onset had significantly lower short- (0.0 vs 6.3%, p = 0.01) and long-term (1.0 vs 9.5%, p = 0.03) mortality. Prehospital initiation of rt-PA appeared to be safe and feasible and resulted in a 40-minute decrease in the time from symptom onset to treatment initiation.

Factors associated with adoption of robotic surgical technology in US hospitals and relationship to radical prostatectomy procedure volume

Objective:Robotic technology has diffused rapidly despite high costs and limited additive reimbursement by major payers. We aimed to identify the factors associated with hospitals decisions to adopt robotic technology and the consequences of these decisions. Methods:This observational study used data on hospitals and market areas from 2005 to 2009. Included were hospitals in census-based statistical areas within states in the State Inpatient Database that participated in the American Hospital Association annual surveys and performed radical prostatectomies. The likelihood that a hospital would acquire a robotic facility and the rates of radical prostatectomy relative to the prevalence of robots in geographic market areas were assessed using multivariable analysis. Results:Hospitals in areas where a higher proportion of other hospitals had already acquired a robot were more likely to acquire one (P = 0.012), as were those with more than 300 beds (P < 0.0001) and teaching hospitals (P < 0.0001). There was a significant association between years with a robot and the change in the number of radical prostatectomies (P < 0.0001). More radical prostatectomies were performed in areas where the number of robots per 100,000 men was higher (P < 0.0001). Adding a single robot per 100,000 men in an area was associated with a 30% increase in the rate of radical prostatectomies. Conclusions:Local area robot competition was associated with the rapid spread of robot technology in the United States. Significantly more radical prostatectomies were performed in hospitals with robots and in market areas of hospitals with robotic technology.

Additional ST segment elevation during the first hour of thrombolytic therapy: An electrocardiographic sign predicting a favorable clinical outcome

OBJECTIVESnThe aim of this study was to investigate the significance of further ST elevation that occurs during the 1st h of thrombolytic therapy before the expected resolution.nnnBACKGROUNDnEarly resolution of ST segment elevation is commonly accepted as a marker of clinical reperfusion during thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Using frequent electrocardiographic recordings, we observed in some patients further ST elevation that occurred during hour 1 of thrombolysis before the expected resolution.nnnMETHODSnTo investigate the significance of this pattern, we classified 177 consecutive patients with a first acute myocardial infarction into two groups: Group A, 98 patients with ST elevation > or = 1 mm above the initial ST elevation during the 1st h of thrombolytic therapy, and Group B, 79 patients without this finding.nnnRESULTSnAlthough the presence or absence of additional ST elevation was not associated with a clinical or prognostic difference in patients with a first inferior or posterior acute myocardial infarction, its presence indicated a more favorable clinical outcome and prognosis in patients with anterior infarction. Among the patients with anterior infarction the 65 patients in Group A had a higher ejection fraction (44 +/- 9% vs. 35 +/- 11%, p < 0.01), less heart failure (15% vs. 35%, p = 0.02) and a lower in-hospital mortality rate (0% vs. 8%, p = 0.04) than did the 37 patients from Group B.nnnCONCLUSIONSnAdditional ST elevation early during thrombolytic therapy in patients with anterior infarction suggests a favorable clinical outcome and thus may be indicative of successful reperfusion.

Rapid Resolution of New Right Bundle Branch Block in Acute Anterior Myocardial Infarction Patients after Thromholytic Therapy

The objectives of this retrospective study are to describe the effect of thrombolytic treatment on the clinical course of patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction complicated by acute right bundle branch block. Patients admitted to the intensive cardiac care unit vvilhin < 4 hours from onset of symptoms, and demonstrating an acute right bundle branch blockwith, or without left axis deviation, on the qualifying ECG were included. AIJ were given intravenous thrombolytic treatment consisting of: streptokinase (1.500,000 IU/40 min) or recombinant tissue type plasminogen activator (120 mg/6 hoursj. Following admission, patients were continuously monitored and a 12‐lead ECG was recorded during each of the first 3 hours and then every 3 hours over the next 21 hours. Eight patients were included (8/211 = 3.8%). Their mean age was 62 ± 7 years and time eJapse from onset to treatment was 122 ± 26 minutes. Complete resolution of the right bundle branch block occurred within < 3 hours in alJ and left axis deviation normalized in two patients. Mean peak creatine kinase wos 1214 ± 604 IU and global left ventricular ejection fracfion, measured by isotope ventriculography within 24 hours from admission, was 39%± 15%. Only one patient was prophylactically paced. In the others, rapid normalization of the conduction block with reperfusion exceeded the logistics required for the transvenous pacemaker implantation procedure. Coronary angiography performed in six patients during 72 hours from admission revealed high grade stenoses in the proximal portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in five patients and complete occlusion in one. Clinical course was generally uneventful and patients were discharged with a mean ejection fraction of 38%± 15%. Thus, patients presenting with anterior myocardial infarction accompanied by a new right bundle branch or bifascicular block are not necessarily candidates for transvenous temporary pacing and may benefit from revascularization.

Early Thrombolytic Therapy Does Not Enhance the Recovery of the Right Ventricle in Patients with Acute Inferior Myocardial Infarction and Predominant Right Ventricular Involvement

In this study we report the effects of early thrombolytic therapy on the recovery of the right ventricle after an acute myocardial infarction. Sixty-five patients presenting with their first inferior myocardial infarction and predominant right ventricular involvement were consecutively treated as follows: group A (20 patients) conservatively (without thrombolytic therapy), group B (19 patients) with streptokinase and group C (26 patients) with recombinant tissue type plasminogen activator. Coronary angiography was performed within 72 h after admission in 52 patients (10 of group A, 18 of group B and in 24 patients of group C) followed by transluminal coronary angioplasty in 26. All groups had similar characteristics except for a higher mean age in group A. Within 3 months, a remarkable improvement in right ventricular function and a major increase in ejection fraction was observed for all three patient groups. Improvement of right ventricular function was more prominent in patients with residual flow through the infarct-related artery. The beneficial course was comparable in all the groups, unaffected by the type of medical treatment applied, or by the performance of coronary angioplasty. No further significant change occurred beyond this period. Thus, early thrombolytic therapy does not augment the generally favorable course of recovery of the right ventricle from acute infarction.

Intermittent, dose-related fluctuations of pain and ST elevation during infusion of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator during acute myocardial infarction

Abstract Reocclusion of reperfused coronary arteries is a major setback that erodes the initial gain obtained by thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). 1 After thrombolysis with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA), early in-hospital reocclusion is observed in 20 to 45% of successfully treated patients. 2 Although maintenance infusion of rt-PA reduces the incidence of reocclusion during the in-hospital period, 3 very early reocclusions immediately after 4 or even during continuous rt-PA infusion can occur. 5,6 We describe 15 patients among 190 patients with AM1 treated with rt-PA in whom initial clinical signs of reperfusion were followed by clinical and electrocardiographic evidence of rt-PA dose-related reocclusion-reperfusion cycles.

Prognostic importance of previous myocardial infarction in patients receiving thrombolytic therapy for acute infarction

This study evaluated the prognostic significance of reinfarction location by considering the previous site or type of myocardial infarction (MI) among 1601 patients with a history of previous MI who took part in the International (non-Italian) tPA/STK trial and/or the Israeli GUSTO study population. These patients were accordingly divided and hospital mortality was compared by six location groups as follows: acute inferior with previous inferior (8.1% hospital mortality), acute inferior with previous anterior (12.8%), acute anterior with previous inferior (13.3%), acute anterior with previous anterior (11.1%), acute inferior with previous non-Q-wave MI (7.6%), and acute anterior with previous non-Q-wave MI (11.2%) (p = 0.17 for comparison between the six groups). Hospital mortality tended to increase among patients with an anterior reinfarction compared with those with an inferior one (12.1% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.12). Among patients with a reinfarction at a different ECG location from the previous event, mortality tended to be higher compared with patients with two MIs at the same location (13.1% vs. 9.7%, p = 0.07). Recurrent MI following a previous Q-wave MI did not cause a higher mortality compared with a previous non-Q-wave type of MI (11.5% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.24). Among patients sustaining reinfarction, overall mortality did not differ between STK- and tPA-treated patients (11.0% vs. 11.4%, p = NS). In conclusion, the current study identified trends for higher mortality rates in patients with anterior compared with inferior reinfarction, with remote compared with the same ECG location of the two infarctions but not following a previous non-Q-wave compared with Q-wave MI. However, no particular combination of successive MIs location was significantly associated with a higher risk for hospital mortality.