Curosurf surfactant application on preterm babies with respiratory complications-health-economic benefits

Abstract

Background: The implementation of surfactant for respiratory syndrome approbates the therapy as a revolutionary method inintensive neonatal therapy and respiratory resuscitation. It is important to investigate the costs of this treatment. Objective: The aim of the study is to analyze the data by the application of the surfactant Curosurf to preterm babies withrespiratory complications and describe the treatment costs, healthcare resource utilization and evaluate economic benefits ofsurfactant use in the treatment of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and hyaline-membrane disease (HDM). Methods: A retrospective survey was performed covering 167 babies based on respiratory complications due to preterm birthand the necessity to apply a surfactant therapy. A documentary method was implemented and for each patient, an individualresearch protocol was filled out - a questionnaire created specifically for the purposes of the study. Results and discussion: An analysis of the data from the application of CUROSURF was made and the obtained therapeuticresults were compared to expenditures for the therapy, short-term therapeutic effect, benefits and consequences of the therapyof preterm newborns with respiratory complications. The application of CUROSURF to babies with RDS resulted in the realizationof net savings due to the elimination of the necessity of conducting several diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as wellas their duration reduction of hospital stay, thus defining its health-economic benefits. Conclusions: The models of evaluation of cost effectiveness reveal that the medicinal product is expensive but effective fromthe aspect of short-term therapeutic results. Keywords: Surfactant; CUROSURF; preterm babies; respiratory complications; health-economic benefits.

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