Economic evaluation of the use of nadroparin calcium in the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in surgical patients in Italy.

The objective of this study was to compare the costs, from the perspective of the payer, of using nadroparin calcium, a low-molecular-weight heparin, instead of unfractionated heparin in the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery or major general surgery in Italy. The methods used were based on a published meta-analysis and a survey of clinical practice. We constructed a model of the prophylaxis and management of venous thromboembolism in Italy.

Economic evaluation of the use of nadroparin in the treatment of deep-vein thrombosis in Switzerland.

Objective: To compare the cost implications, from the payer's perspective, of the use of nadroparin instead of unfractionated heparin in the initial treatment of deep-vein thrombosis.

Design: Cost-minimization study.

Setting: Switzerland.

Fluconazole versus oral polyenes in the prophylaxis of immunocompromised patients: a cost-minimization analysis.

This study compares 100 mg daily fluconazole with oral polyenes four times daily in the prophylaxis of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients, to determine a cost-minimization strategy. Data was gathered through a literature survey and clinical interviews conducted in nine different UK hospitals. This was used to construct a decision tree, modelling the drug choices available to a clinician at various stages of a patient's treatment, and assigning probabilities to the different corresponding outcomes.

Comparison of the cost-effectiveness of administering heparin subcutaneously or intravenously for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis.

The cost-effectiveness of subcutaneous heparin (20,000 iu, twice daily, prefilled syringes), a continuous intravenous infusion of 24,000 iu heparin in 24 h, and the intravenous infusion of 48,000 iu heparin as two consecutive 12-h infusions of 24,000 iu, were compared. The costs were calculated by timing and observing staff in three hospitals, and by noting the costs of what they used. Cannulation of a vein by a doctor took a mean of 4 min 16 s and cost 2.