Objectives: The "closed" in situ bypass results in a reduction of wound complications compared to the "open" technique. This advantage is partly diminished by extra costs for the "closed" procedure and a larger percentage of residual arteriovenous (AV)-fistulae. This aim of this study was to analyse costs related to "closed" and "open" procedures.
Methods: The cost affecting parameters: (1) duration of operation; (2) length of hospital stay; and (3) number of treated residual AV-fistulae, were analysed in a randomised group of 73 patients (35 "closed" and 38 "open") in two centres. In addition, costs of the operation, nursing care and treatment of AV-fistulae were analysed.
Results: The "closed" and "open" group showed a median duration of operation of 210 min (range 105-570) and 154 min (range 90-355) (p < 0.05), length of hospital stay of 16 days (range 5-51) and 25 days (range 12-65) (p < 0.01), and a percentage of patients treated for residual AV-fistulae of 40% and 5%, respectively (p < 0.01). The median "closed" operation was US$798 more expensive than the "open". Median postoperative care was US$2664 less for the "closed" group. Mean estimated costs for treatment of AV-fistulae was US$9 in the "open" and US$167 in the "closed" group.
Conclusion: The "closed" in situ vein bypass technique is cost-effective in comparison with the "open" technique.