The Use of Indwelling Pleural Catheters for the Management of Malignant Pleural Effusion - Direct Costs in a Dutch Hospital

Background: Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) are increasingly used in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). In general, these catheters have been reported to manage MPE efficiently. Unfortunately, insurance companies in the Netherlands do not reimburse these catheters in either first-line treatment or following failed talc pleurodesis. Objectives: Investigation of direct costs of IPC placement. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database. Direct costs for both catheters and vacuum bottles were calculated. Indicators for indirect costs such as adverse e... Mehr ...