Philips
(NYSE: PHG)
announced today that a published analysis supports its stroke care pathway.
Amsterdam-based Philips had results of the health economic analysis published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery (JNIS). Data demonstrated that the company’s approach to stroke care reduced costs by an average of $3,120 per patient.
Philips’ retrospective analysis looked at data from the controlled, single-center ANGIOCAT clinical trial. Investigators at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital Stroke Unit (Barcelona, Spain) conducted the study. Earlier results showed that a “direct-to-angio suite” pathway also improves clinical outcomes for patients who suffered a stroke.
“The ANGIOCAT clinical study has already shown that bringing stroke patients directly to the angio suite improves patient outcomes. The economic analysis of the data now tells us we can also significantly reduce costs,” said Dr. Manuel Requena, stroke and interventional neurologist, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron. “This indicates that the initial up-front investment of a direct-to-angio suite workflow will result in a fast return on investment for healthcare providers.”
More about the Philips analysis
Philips said the typical treatment pathway for stroke begins with initial triage in the emergency department. The patient then goes to the radiology department for a diagnostic CT or MRI brain scan. Philips says this adds time and can worsen through gaps in communication, information and access to stroke expertise.
Using cone-beam CT imaging, which Philips built into its Azurion image-guided therapy system, enables a time-saving alternative. Patients can transfer to the dedicated angio suite immediately after admission and clinicians can make a diagnosis and intervene on the spot. This saves time, the company says. Meanwhile, the health economics analysis indicates a positive return on investment for the suite in only a few years.
Philips’ cone-beam CT uses a cone-shaped beam of X-rays and a flat-panel detector mounted on a C-arm gantry. It captures multiple images from different angles to reconstruct 3D images of the brain. The technology can rule out intracranial hemorrhages and identify large vessel occlusions (LVOs). Philips says these account for roughly a quarter to a half of acute ischemic strokes.
Multiple single-center studies showed the positive impact of this stroke treatment pathway developed by Philips. The company also said it has an ongoing WE-TRUST clinical trial to confirm patient benefits.