Cost-effectiveness of neonatal surgery: A review

Background/Purpose: Technological developments have revolutionized both dia gnosis and treatment in neonatal surgery. However, it has been increasingly recognized that financial resources might become insufficient to provide a ll the medical care that is technically feasible or that patients and famil ies might desire. The purpose of this study is to apply the theory of healt h economics to neonatal surgery and to explore the extent and the kind of e conomic evaluation done in neonatal surgery. Methods: To explore the work done so far, the authors undertook a literatur e search aimed at costs and effects of surgical interventions in newborns w ith Ravitch' surgical index diagnoses of congenital anomalies. Common keywo rds in cost-effectiveness analysis were used to search Medline. Results: Evidence about the cost effectiveness of neonatal surgery is large ly lacking. This is probably because of difficulties in long-term tracking of the patients and to the problem that most generic quality-of-life measur es are not applicable in children yet. Conclusions: Further cost-effectiveness research in neonatal surgery is war ranted to settle priority discussions in health care when neonatal surgery is part of such discussions. Methodology for generic quality-of-life measur ement in children is badly needed. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Comp any.