[Teleradiologic follow up of patients treated with aortic stent grafting].

Background: A study has confirmed the possibility of follow up in the local hospital of patients who have undergone endovascular repair. We present a cost analysis of such a regimen compared to follow up at a university hospital.

Material And Methods: By using discharge data from the Norwegian Patient Register we identified a group of patients which could have been followed up at their local hospital for their stent-grafted abdominal aortic aneurysm and estimated the cost effects of performing follow ups locally.

Results: The cost analysis showed a potential for cost savings from local follow ups, especially from moving from inpatient care at the university hospital to outpatient care locally. The result of this cost analysis differs from other Norwegian studies of teleradiology by identifying a possibility for more cost-effective treatment.

Interpretation: Using teleradiology to follow up these patients will free up capacity in the university hospital. Most probably, other groups of patients can also be followed up by teleradiology. The university hospitals can use this freed-up capacity for new patients. Teleradiology could lead to more efficient use of health care facilities, which should be in the interest of the health authorities.