PTCA vs. CABG
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Balloon angioplasty and coronary artery bypass surgery are ultimately comparable in cost, according to results of the Emory Angioplasty versus Surgery Trial (EAST) presented Nov. 14 at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Dallas. William Weintraub, MD, et al., Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, found that average initial combined professional and hospital costs were $16,223 for angioplasty and $24,005 for bypass surgery. After three years, however, average costs were $23,734 for angioplasty and $25,310 for surgery. The group attributed the long-term cost increase to a higher rate of repeat procedures in the angioplasty group. A study conducted by the British Health Economics Research Group and published in the Oct. 1 issue of The Lancet found that PTCA costs about 80% as much as CABG at two years after surgery