Comparação dos custos e benefícios do tratamento da hidrocefalia com implante de válvula e com cirurgia neuroendoscópica

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, 2015.Contexto: A cirurgia da hidrocefalia é a mais frequente em neurocirurgia pediátrica. Desde a introdução dos implantes de válvula na década de 1950, essa tem sido a modalidade de tratamento da hidrocefalia mais utilizada em todo o mundo. Com o desenvolvimento das técnicas neuroendoscópicas para o tratamento da hidrocefalia obstrutiva, surgiu uma alternativa ao uso das válvulas. Este é o primeiro estudo realizado no Brasil comparando os custos do tratamento da hidrocefalia em um Hospital Público, numa tentativa de orientar a escolha do melhor uso do dinheiro público. Recursos Públicos limitados são um desafio para o tratamento adequado de várias patologias, incluindo a hidrocefalia. Objetivo: Comparar os resultados e custos do tratamento cirúrgico da hidrocefalia com implante de válvula com a realização de terceiro ventriculostomia endoscópica em crianças. Desenho: Coorte prospectiva Sujeitos: Cento e três crianças portadoras de hidrocefalia que foram tratadas pela primeira vez no Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal nos anos de 2007 2008. Medidas mais importantes dos resultados: Custos finais do tratamento por um ano desde a primeira cirurgia para tratar a hidrocefalia, incluindo novas internações por complicações. Métodos: Foram estudadas 103 crianças com hidrocefalia, 52 tratadas com terceiro ventriculostomia endoscópica e 51 com derivação ventrículo peritoneal com interposição de válvula. As crianças foram acompanhadas prospectivamente por um ano desde a cirurgia. Foram comparados os custos do tratamento durante o tempo de acompanhamento, somando-se os custos por internações subsequentes. Resultados: Vinte (38,4%) das 52 crianças tratadas com derivação ventrículo-peritoneal necessitaram de outra cirurgia por disfunção da válvula, comparado a 11 (21,5%) das 51 crianças do grupo tratado com cirurgia neuroendoscópica. Os custos médios dos pacientes no grupo tratado com implante de válvula foi de USD$2.890,68 ± 2.835,02 comparados ao custo médio de USD$ 2.177,66 ± 517,73 naquelas crianças tratadas com terceiro ventriculostomia endoscópica. Em relação ao resultado clínico, a resposta ao tratamento foi similar nos dois grupos, independente da técnica cirúrgica empregada. Conclusão: No presente trabalho não houve diferença significativa de custos entre os grupos de crianças tratados com implante de válvula ou com neuroendoscopia. Da mesma maneira, não foram observados diferentes resultados clínicos independente do tratamento empregado. Entretanto, observou-se uma maior frequência de complicações naquelas crianças tratadas com derivação ventrículo peritoneal, resultando numa tendência a um custo maior do tratamento com o passar do tempo. Para confirmar essa tendência, torna-se necessário um estudo clínico com maior tempo de seguimento.Background: Surgical treatment of hydrocephalus is the most common in pediatric neurosurgery. Since the introduction of the valve implants in 1950, this has been the most used method of treatment of hydrocephalus worldwide. With the development of neuroendoscopic techniques for the treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus, there is na alternative to the use of valves. This is the first study conducted in Brazil comparing the treatment costs of hydrocephalus in a public hospital in na attempt to guide the choice of the use of public money. Public limited resources are a challenge for the proper treatment of many diseases, including hydrocephalus. Objective: To compare the results and costs of surgical treatment of hydrocephalus with valve implantation versus the endoscopic third ventriculostomy in children. Design: Prospective cohort study. Subjects: One hundred and three children with hydrocephalus who were treated for the first time in the Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal in the years 2007 2008. Most important outcome measures: Final costs of treatment for one year from the first hydrocephalus surgery, including new hospitalizations for complications. Methods: We studied 103 children with hydrocephalus, 52 treated with endoscopic third ventriculostomy and 51 with ventricle peritoneal shunt with the use of valve. The children were followed prospectively for one year from surgery. The costs of treatment during follow-up were compared, adding the costs for subsequent hospitalizations. Results: Twenty (38.4%) of 52 children treated with ventricular shunt required another surgery for valve dysfunction, compared to 11 (21.5%) of the 51 children in the group treated with endoscopic surgery. The average costs of patients in the group treated with valve implantation was USD $2890.68 ± 2835.02 compared to the average cost of USD$ 2177.66 ± 517.73 in children treated with endoscopic third ventriculostomy. The clinical outcome and response to treatment was similar in both groups, regardless of the surgical technique. Conclusion: In this study there was no significant difference in costs between groups of children treated with valve implant or with endoscopy. There was no difference in the clinical results with the two ways of treatment. However, there was a higher incidence of complications in the children treated with ventricular peritoneal shunt, showing a tendency towards higher costs of treatment over time. Further studies with long lasting follow up are needed to confirm this tendency

Terceiro ventriculostomia endoscópica não apresenta custos mais elevados do que a derivação ventrículo peritoneal

Objetivo: Avaliar os custos da terceiro ventriculostomia endoscópica (TVE) comparada à derivação ventrículo peritoneal (DVP) no tratamento da hidrocefalia em crianças. Método: Foram estudadas 103 crianças com hidrocefalia, 52 das quais tratadas com TVE e 51 com DVP numa coorte prospectiva. Foram comparados os custos do tratamento no primeiro ano após a cirurgia, incluindo cirurgias ou internações subsequentes. Resultados: Vinte (38,4%) das 52 crianças tratadas com DVP necessitaram de outro procedimento por disfunção da válvula, em comparação a 11 (21,5%) das 51 crianças do grupo tratado com TVE. Os custos médios por paciente no grupo tratado com TVE foram de USD$2,177.66±517.73 comparados a USD$ 2.890,68±2.835,02 para o grupo DVP. Conclusões: Nesta série não houve diferença significativa de custos entre o grupo TVE e DVP.Objective: To evaluate the cost of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) compared to ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) in the treatment of hydrocephalus in children. Method: We studied 103 children with hydrocephalus, 52 of which were treated with ETV and 51 with VPS in a prospective cohort. Treatment costs were compared within the first year after surgery, including subsequent surgery or hospitalization. Results: Twenty (38.4%) of the 52 children treated with VPS needed another procedure due to shunt failure, compared to 11 (21.5%) of 51 children in the ETV group. The average costs per patient in the group treated with ETV was USD$2,177,66±517.73 compared to USD$ 2,890.68±2,835.02 for the VPS group. Conclusions: In this series there was no significant difference in costs between the ETV and VPS groups

Prolactinomas Resistant to Treatment With Dopamine Agonists: Long-Term Follow-Up of Six Cases

Introduction: Prolactinomas are preferentially treated with dopamine agonists. However, a few adenomas are resistant to this treatment.Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of patients with resistance to dopamine agonists in the long-term.Method: A retrospective study of six cases was made. Patients who did not achieve normalized prolactin blood concentrations and a reduction of more than 50% of the tumor volume with the minimum dose of 3.5 mg per week of cabergoline for 3 months or the maximum supported dose of bromocriptine for 6 months were considered resistant to dopamine agonists. Patients were followed up at the Clinic of Neurology and Endocrinology or the University Hospital of Brasilia.Results: Six patients were selected. Three patients were initially treated with bromocriptine prior to treatment with cabergoline. Four patients were men, and two were women. At the time of diagnosis, ages ranged from 9 to 62 years. Initial prolactin concentrations ranged from 430 to 14,992 ng/mL and in the last assessment ranged from 29.6 to 2,169 ng/mL. The tumor volume ranged from 0.77 to 24.0 mm3. Tumor regression occurred in all patients, ranging from 20 to 100%, but total disappearance of the adenoma with an empty sella occurred in one patient. The maximum weekly doses of cabergoline ranged from 3.0 to 4.5 mg. Follow-up time ranged from seven to 17 years. Normalization of prolactin concentrations occurred only in one woman after 17 years of treatment. Three patients also underwent surgery, but only one woman was cured of the disease.Conclusion: This study confirms that tumors resistant to dopamine agonists are more aggressive, since we did not have any microadenoma; treatment with high dose of cabergoline may reduce the size of the tumor without its disappearance, and that normalization of prolactin concentration rarely occurs. To our knowledge, this is the longest follow-up of a series of cases with resistance to dopamine agonists

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy has no higher costs than ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Objective: To evaluate the cost of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) compared to ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) in the treatment of hydrocephalus in children. Method: We studied 103 children with hydrocephalus, 52 of which were treated with ETV and 51 with VPS in a prospective cohort. Treatment costs were compared within the first year after surgery, including subsequent surgery or hospitalization. Results: Twenty (38.4%) of the 52 children treated with VPS needed another procedure due to shunt failure, compared to 11 (21.5%) of 51 children in the ETV group. The average costs per patient in the group treated with ETV was USD$2,177,66±517.73 compared to USD$ 2,890.68±2,835.02 for the VPS group. Conclusions: In this series there was no significant difference in costs between the ETV and VPS groups