The outcomes and cost analysis of open repair and endovascular aneurysm repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms: a single-center experience in Japan

Japan has adopted its own reimbursement system, which differs from other countries in terms of its diagnostic procedure combination (DPC) methods. However, there are few reports on the cost analysis of open repair and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysms in Japan. We aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness of these two procedures.

This study included patients who underwent open repair (n = 224) and EVAR (n = 87) between January 2012 and December 2022. After propensity score matching, we compared the two groups.

The drug and blood products, procedures, and DPC costs were significantly higher in the open repair group (p < 0.001) than in the EVAR group. The surgical equipment and total costs were significantly higher in the EVAR group than in the open repair group (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the 5-year survival rate (88.5% in the open repair group vs. 72.0% in the EVAR group; p = 0.33) and freedom from re-intervention rate at 5 years (93.1% in the open repair group vs. 89.9% in the EVAR group; p = 0.15) between the two groups.

Open repair is more cost-effective than EVAR. The cost-effectiveness of EVAR may therefore depend on the cost of the endograft.