Oradei M, Calandriello M, Riccioni ME, Pirozzi GA, Costamagna G; Health Technology Assessment International. Meeting (2nd : 2005 : Rome, Italy).

Ital J Public Health. 2005; 2: 272.

Technology Assessment Unit, Policlinico A. Gemelli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, largo Gemelli 8, Roma, 193 Italy Tel: +39 06 30155919, Fax: +39 06 35510587, E-mail: moradei@rm.unicatt.it

Background: M2A is a capsule allowing to explore the small bowel and eventually diagnose diseases. Aims: comparison of data, in the context of a large Italian hospital, on the diagnostic effectiveness and cost of the M2A capsule as an alternative to a group of other common diagnostic methods, in order to make a cost-effective analysis. Methods: 76 patients, with intestinal bleeding, were studied. The processed results include: 1) subdivision in 2 subgroups based on sex; 2) subdivision in 3 subgroups based on age; 3) calculation of costs for every subgroup; 4) calculation of synthetic indicators. The M2A effectiveness has been measured in terms of diagnosed cases. The diagnosis is indicated as follows: 1- Certainty: the exam allowed to formulate a diagnosis; 2- Suspect: lesions found, not bleeding at the moment, but justifying the execution of the exam; 3- N.D.: not diagnosed. Data regarding the effectiveness of other diagnostic techniques have been found in patient files, existing literature and through an accurate analysis of the Web. Results: The analysis shows the high diagnostic capacity of the capsule (62% versus 30%). The diagnostic effectiveness reaches a peak value of 82% if the capsule is given to patients with active bleeding. The analysis of the costs shows a fluctuating trend depending on the subgroup. Conclusions: The use of capsule endoscopy seems appropriate to diagnose diseases of the small bowel, especially if the patient presents active bleeding. It seems to allow significant cost reduction, in a different range depending on subgroup.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Capsules
• Endoscopy
• Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal
• Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
• Hemorrhage
• Humans
• Intestinal Diseases
• Intestine, Small
• Physical Examination
• diagnosis
• hsrmtgs

UI: 103141332

From Meeting Abstracts