F. Lecuru et al., Direct cost of single dose methotrexate for unruptured ectopic pregnancy -Prospective comparison with laparoscopy, EUR J OB GY, 88(1), 2000, pp. 1-6
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
Reproductive Medicine
Journal title
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Objectives: to compare the direct cost of single dose methotrexate (MTX) an
d laparoscopy in the treatment of unruptured ectopic pregnancy (unruptured
EP). Study design: A prospective nonrandomized study. Thirty-two women rece
ived intramuscular MTX (1 mg/kg) on an out-patient basis when they fulfille
d the following requirements: human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level <500
0 IU/l, hematosalpinx diameter <3 cm and peritoneal fluid <100 cc. Follow-u
p consisted of clinical controls and hCG assays. Twenty-seven women eligibl
e for MTX therapy according to the above conditions underwent laparoscopic
salpingectomy because some of them refused the therapy while others had con
traindications to MTX. We recorded all the medical expenses related to the
out-patient and in-patient management for the two treatment options, The co
st was calculated according to the French General Nomenclature of Professio
nal Acts and expressed in Euros. Results: MTX resulted in a significantly l
ower mean direct cost in comparison with surgery (E 1145 vs. 2442, P=0.006)
that was mainly due to shortened hospital stay (1.1 vs. 2.8 days, P=0.007)
. Conversely MTX required a significantly higher number of medical acts dur
ing the follow-up. Costs for MTX therapy were closely related to the length
of hospitalization and to the duration of the follow-up. Conclusion: Singl
e dose MTX provides significant cost-savings when compared to laparoscopy.
Savings reach a peak for small unruptured EP because hospitalization is not
required and the length of follow-up reduced. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ir
eland Ltd, All rights reserved.