Evaluating the Economic and Environmental Impact of Reprocessed IPC Sleeves for VTE Prophylaxis: a Cost-Consequence Analysis
Author(s)
Kim Seemann, MS1, Tobias Muench, MS1, Rhodri Saunders, BSc, MSc, PhD1, Alex Veloz, MS2.
1Coreva Scientific GmbH & Co KG, Königswinter, Germany, 2HEOR Pro, Geneva, IL, USA.
1Coreva Scientific GmbH & Co KG, Königswinter, Germany, 2HEOR Pro, Geneva, IL, USA.
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: Healthcare provision is resource-intensive and creates a substantial environmental burden. Single-use medical devices contribute to this, especially when applied broadly such as in prevention protocols. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis uses pneumatic sleeves to improve circulation in the lower extremities. Here the economic and environmental impact of switching from single-use to multi-use, reprocessed IPC sleeves for VTE prophylaxis in acute care patients is assessed from the US hospital perspective.
METHODS: A decision tree was developed to estimate costs and consequences of single-use versus reprocessed IPC sleeves. Four cycles of reprocessing were considered for the reprocessed IPC sleeves. Data for IPC was derived from the Kendall SCD™ 700 Smart Compression™ system (Cardinal Health) and a previously published life cycle analysis. IPC costs were the US mean acquisition price for 2024. Other model data were identified through a structured literature review of PubMed. Model outcomes per 100 IPC patients were total costs (in 2024 USD), waste, and CO2 emissions. Model uncertainty, presented as the 95% credible interval (95% CrI) was quantified using a 1,500-iteration Monte Carlo probabilistic analysis.
RESULTS: For every 100 IPC patients, the model resulted in median cost savings of $190 (95% CrI: $155-225); with total costs of $828 (95% CrI: $672-978) for reprocessed and $1,018 (95% CrI: $826-1,203) for single-use IPC sleeves. In addition, reprocessing IPC sleeves saved 47lbs (95% CrI: 34-63) of hospital waste and 122lbs (95% CrI: 56-197) of CO2 emissions. This amounts to an 80% (95% CrI: 74-85) reduction in waste.
CONCLUSIONS: From a hospital perspective, reprocessing IPC sleeves can be both cost-saving and environmentally beneficial by reducing waste compared to single-use IPC sleeves. Hospitals should consider environmental parameters in a holistic, evidence-based assessment to estimate the impact of purchasing decisions beyond the total cost.
METHODS: A decision tree was developed to estimate costs and consequences of single-use versus reprocessed IPC sleeves. Four cycles of reprocessing were considered for the reprocessed IPC sleeves. Data for IPC was derived from the Kendall SCD™ 700 Smart Compression™ system (Cardinal Health) and a previously published life cycle analysis. IPC costs were the US mean acquisition price for 2024. Other model data were identified through a structured literature review of PubMed. Model outcomes per 100 IPC patients were total costs (in 2024 USD), waste, and CO2 emissions. Model uncertainty, presented as the 95% credible interval (95% CrI) was quantified using a 1,500-iteration Monte Carlo probabilistic analysis.
RESULTS: For every 100 IPC patients, the model resulted in median cost savings of $190 (95% CrI: $155-225); with total costs of $828 (95% CrI: $672-978) for reprocessed and $1,018 (95% CrI: $826-1,203) for single-use IPC sleeves. In addition, reprocessing IPC sleeves saved 47lbs (95% CrI: 34-63) of hospital waste and 122lbs (95% CrI: 56-197) of CO2 emissions. This amounts to an 80% (95% CrI: 74-85) reduction in waste.
CONCLUSIONS: From a hospital perspective, reprocessing IPC sleeves can be both cost-saving and environmentally beneficial by reducing waste compared to single-use IPC sleeves. Hospitals should consider environmental parameters in a holistic, evidence-based assessment to estimate the impact of purchasing decisions beyond the total cost.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
MT26
Topic
Medical Technologies
Disease
SDC: Cardiovascular Disorders (including MI, Stroke, Circulatory)