Retrospective study of patients submitted to appendectomy in a tertiary hospital: is there a difference between the public and supplementary health system?

Introduction: Appendicitis is the surgical disease with the highest prevalence in emergency rooms. Its clinical and/or surgical complications are associated with the time course of symptoms, age, comorbidities, and stages of the disease. Objectives: To analyze the demographic and clinical data of patients who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis in a tertiary referral hospital in the city of São Paulo and compare these data between services provided by the Public and Supplementary Health System. Methodology: Retrospective analysis of data from electronic medical records of patients over 14 years old who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis at Hospital Santa Marcelina, both in the Public and Supplementary Health Systems from January 2015 to December 2017. Results: A total of 536 patients were analyzed, 354 (66%) of whom were male with a general mean age of 29.85 years (14-81 years). The mean time from symptoms to seeking medical care was 53.84 hours. Regarding the phases of acute appendicitis, a greater number of cases of complicated disease was observed in patients operated on in the Public Health System (p < 0.0001), as well as the time course of symptoms (p = 0.0005) and Conclusion: There was a predominance of male patients undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis, with longer time course of symptoms in those operated on in the Public Health System and a predominance of appendicitis in advanced stages (3 and 4) in this group. However, in this group there was no significant increase in the rate of postoperative infection, and the length of stay was shorter than that of patients operated on in the Supplementary Health System. (AU)

Os planos de saúde e a cobertura de home care / Health insurance and home care coverage

As solicitações de cobertura para home care estão entre as mais complexas discussões hoje existentes no universo jurídico dos planos de saúde. A partir de um estudo normativo-jurisprudencial, o presente artigo tem como objetivo examinar os serviços de saúde domiciliares à luz das coberturas dos contratos de planos de saúde. Com esta meta, passa por diversos tópicos inerentes a este assunto, incluindo determinados fenômenos jurídicos e sociais que ajudam a entendê-lo, assim como o regime jurídico que regula a matéria. Na sequência, o artigo foca os serviços domiciliares, com ênfase naqueles que, à luz das normas aplicáveis, são considerados como de cobertura obrigatória. Após, comenta também a complexidade terminológica que envolve o tema. Ao final, passa ao exame da jurisprudência existente sobre planos de saúde e cobertura para serviços domiciliares, com destaque para os recentes precedentes que, na opinião dos autores, adotam uma posição mais aceitável e razoável, capaz de representar um verdadeiro ponto de equilíbrio a esta temática tão controvertida.

Demands for home care coverage are stirring the most complex discussions currently existing in the legal universe of health insurance contracts. Based on a normative-jurisprudential study, this essay's scope examines home health care services in light of the coverage of health insurance contracts. With this goal, several topics on the subject are dealt with, including certain juridical and social phenomena that facilitate its understanding, as well as the legal regime that regulates this matter. It follows focusing on home health care services, with emphasis on those that, in light of the applicable regulatory standards, are considered to be of compulsory coverage. Next, the terminological complexity that involves this subject is also commented. At the end, the existing jurisprudence regarding health care insurances and the coverage for home health care services is examined, highlighting recent precedents that, in the authors' opinion, adopt an acceptable and reasonable position, capable of representing a true balance point for this controversial matter.

Custo-efetividade e impacto orçamentário da introdução do cabozantinibe no tratamento de carcinoma de células renais avançado no sistema de saúde suplementar no Brasil / Cost-effectiveness and budgetary impact of introducing cabozantinib in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma in the supplementary health system in Brazil

Objetivo: Este trabalho teve por objetivo determinar o custo-efetividade e o impacto orçamentário do cabozantinibe para o sistema de saúde suplementar no Brasil, no tratamento de carcinoma de células renais (RCC) avançado ou metastático, após falha de tratamento com inibidor do fator de crescimento endotelial vascular (VEGF), quando comparado ao atual tratamento aprovado: nivolumabe. Métodos: Foram utilizados custos referentes ao uso de recursos, tratamento médico, eventos adversos e qualidade de vida, calculados por estado de saúde. Foi considerado o tempo horizonte de 20 anos para análise de custo-efetividade e 5 anos para impacto orçamentário, e foi realizado um cenário alternativo comparando o cabozantinibe ao nivolumabe e axitinibe. Resultados: O cabozantinibe apresentou eficácia superior quando comparado ao nivolumabe e ao axitinibe e representa uma redução de custos comparado ao nivolumabe. Em relação aos eventos adversos, o cabozantinibe apresenta redução dos gastos quando comparado ao nivolumabe. Conclusão: Esses resultados mostram um potencial de economia ao sistema de saúde suplementar com a adoção do cabozantinibe no tratamento para RCC avançado ou metastático em segunda linha no Brasil.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness and budgetary impact of cabozantinib for the supplementary health system in Brazil, in the treatment of advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after treatment failure with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, when compared current approved treatment: nivolumab. Methods: Costs related to the use of resources, medical treatment, adverse events and quality of life were used, calculated by health status. The horizon time of 20 years was considered for cost-effectiveness analysis and 5 years for budgetary impact, and an alternative scenario was carried out comparing cabozantinib to nivolumab and axitinib. Results: Cabozantinib showed superior efficacy when compared to nivolumab and axitinib and represents a cost reduction compared to nivolumab. In relation to adverse events, cabozantinib shows a reduction in costs when compared to nivolumab. Conclusion: These results show a potential savings for the supplementary health system with the adoption of cabozantinib in the treatment for advanced or metastatic second-line RCC in Brazil.

Custo-efetividade da infiltração contínua da ferida cirúrgica com ropivacaína versus morfina para controle de dor aguda / Cost-effectiveness of ropivacaine continuous wound infiltration versus morphine for acute pain control

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a custo-efetividade da infiltração contínua da ferida cirúrgica (ICFC) com ropivacaína versus infusão de morfina, sob a perspectiva da Saúde Suplementar Brasileira, em horizonte de 48 horas após cirurgias de grande porte. MÉTODOS: Análise de custo-efetividade por modelo analítico de decisão, empregando dados clínicos de sucesso de analgesia e redução de efeitos colaterais, como náuseas e vômitos pós-operatórios ligados à analgesia com opioides (PONV), obtidos por revisão de literatura. Foram considerados no modelo custos médicos diretos e custos relacionados à internação (receita líquida por leito). RESULTADOS: A eficácia clínica da tecnologia de ICFC mostrou-se superior em todos os cenários apresentados, quando comparada à morfina endovenosa, com menor incidência de PONV, maior taxa de sucesso da analgesia e menor necessidade de opioides de resgate. Ainda, a ICFC mostrou-se menos dispendiosa do que o comparador selecionado, seja administrado por infusão em bolus ou por dispositivo de infusão de fármacos. O resultadose deve, majoritariamente, à redução do tempo de permanência hospitalar. CONCLUSÃO: A ICFC é uma alternativa extremamente efetiva, do ponto de vista clínico, para controle de dor aguda. A tecnologia pode trazer ainda economia de recursos financeiros em curto prazo, já que a dor aguda ea incidência de PONV, além de aumentar o consumo de medicamentos, como opioides e antieméticos, pode prolongar a recuperação do paciente e a sua permanência hospitalar.

OBJECTIVES: To assess cost-effectiveness of continuous wound infiltration (CWI) with ropivacaine versus intravenous morphine, under the perspective of the Brazilian Supplementary Health System, in a time horizon of 48 hours after major surgeries. METHODS: Cost-effectiveness analysis through an analytic decision model, applying clinical data of success rate of analgesia and reduction of side effects, such as opioid related postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), obtained through literature review. The model accomplishes direct medical costs and costs related to hospital stay (incomeper hospital bed). RESULTS: Clinical efficacy of CWI has shown superior results in all scenarios presented, when compared to intravenous morphine, with lower incidence of PONV, higher success rates in analgesia and less need of rescue with opioids. CWI has also shown less expensive than the selected comparator administered either in bolus or drug infusion devices. This result is specially derived from the reduction on the hospital length of stay. CONCLUSION: CWI is an extremely effective alternative for acute pain control, in the clinical point of view. It can also generate cost-savings in the short term, as acute pain and PONV incidence, besides increasing consumption of opioids and antiemetic drugs, can jeopardize patient recovery and prolong unnecessarily his hospital stay.