OBJECTIVES: Traditional intermittent pneumatic compression device (IPCD) has been known to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) after total knee replacement (TKR); mobile IPCD is a newer therapeutic option with the advantage of allowing earlier ambulation and performance of daily tasks. Economic evidence in this area is scarce. This study represents an economic evaluation of mobile compared to traditional IPCD within three months after TKR from a Thai hospital's perspective.

METHODS: The base case represents a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) with health outcomes measured as the VTE rate. The evaluation included one-way deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. A three-month time horizon was modeled as this is the period over which VTE usually develops after TKR. Resource cost inputs came from hospital reimbursement data, which included possible VTE therapy. This study used data from Siriraj Hospital, Thailand. Effectiveness was based on 4,066 Siriraj Hospital TKR patients between 2017 and 2021. A future cost-utility analysis (CUA) is planned using quality-adjusted life years (QALY) drawn from a questionnaire administered to TKR patients that employs a Thai EQ5D.

RESULTS: Mobile IPCD dominated traditional IPCD from the hospital's perspective yielding cost-savings (THB 6,994 vs THB 9,256), and lower VTE rates (0.125% vs. 0.129%).

CONCLUSIONS: From the hospital's perspective, mobile IPCD dominates traditional IPCD. While VTE is a rare event, mobile IPCD offers additional benefits to the patient by providing more freedom of movement, and these differences will be better understood when health outcomes are measured in QALYs.