Economic impact of the advent of posterior lamellar keratoplasty in Montreal, Quebec.

Objective: To assess the cost-utility of posterior lamellar keratoplasty (PLK) techniques, including deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty, Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty, and Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty, in the treatment of corneal endothelial diseases.

Design: Cost-utility analysis based on a Markov model.

Participants: Cohort of 100 patients waiting for corneal graft.

Methods: This cost-utility analysis was performed from a Canadian health system perspective over a lifetime period. A Markov model was constructed to compare the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) associated with penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and PLK techniques. The model included all major health states relevant to patients scheduled for corneal transplant: waiting for transplant, surviving graft with or without complications, irreversible failure, noneligibility, and death. Transition probabilities among health states were obtained from published clinical trials. Costs considered were those associated with surgery, patients' follow-up, and postsurgical complications. Number of QALYs was estimated presurgery and postsurgery using the Brown and Sharma conversion chart.

Results: PLK proved to be more effective, providing more QALYs (+13 QALYs/100 patients), and it was less costly (-$68,792/100 patients) compared with PK. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the base-case results.

Conclusions: From a clinical and an economic standpoint, PLK in the management of patients waiting for corneal graft represents a preferred strategy compared with PK only.