OBJECTIVES: TrailBlazer support catheters are percutaneous, single-lumen catheters designed for use in the peripheral vascular system. The aim of this study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of the TrailBlazer support catheter compared to no support catheter in high-risk patients treated with endovascular interventional procedures for peripheral vascular diseases.

METHODS: This TrailBlazer support catheter economic model was developed for Turkey and was calculated with direct costs from a payer perspective. A simple decision analysis model was used to assess the cost effectiveness of the use of TrailBlazer compared to no use of a support catheter. In the study, the patient group that could use a support catheter was calculated assuming that it would be used on 2024 patients. The effectiveness data in the “support catheter” arm and the comparison, “no support catheter use” arm, were obtained through expert opinion.In each treatment arm, procedure success rates, by-pass rates, second guidewire usage rates, and complication rates and costs were calculated. Model results are presented with incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) cost per event prevented (successful procedure, bypass, use of additional guidewire, and complication). Unit costs were taken from the Social Security Institution’s official price list.

RESULTS: Results from this analysis indicate that using the TrailBlazer support catheter is dominant compared to no support catheter, with an ICER of -4.683TRY. In other words, the use of TrailBlazer support catheter provides both greater clinical benefit and lower costs. It is estimated that if the TrailBlazer support catheter is used, 2307 events will be prevented, and a total saving of 10,802,594 TRY (311,585 €, Fx Rate: 34,6698 TRY) will be provided to the Social Security Institution budget.

CONCLUSIONS: Use of TrailBlazer support catheter in endovascular interventional procedures among high-risk patients is a cost-effective treatment option in Turkey.