Treatment of varicose ulcer of the lower limbs by surgery and Unna boot: savings for the Brazilian healthcare system

ABSTRACT Objective: To perform an analysis of the costs of treatment of varicose ulcers by radical surgery of varices and the use of Unna boot. Methods: Fifteen outpatients were selected to receive treatment of varicose ulcers with radical surgery and Unna boot. The total cost of treatment was calcu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inEinstein (São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 377 - 385
Main Authors Sergio Quilici Belczak, Vitor Cervantes Gornati, Ricardo Aun, Igor Rafael Sincos, Hélio Fragoso
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein 01.09.2011
Subjects
Public health
Varicose ulcer/economics
Varicose ulcer/surgery
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:ABSTRACT Objective: To perform an analysis of the costs of treatment of varicose ulcers by radical surgery of varices and the use of Unna boot. Methods: Fifteen outpatients were selected to receive treatment of varicose ulcers with radical surgery and Unna boot. The total cost of treatment was calculated (hospitalization, surgery, dressings, and outpatient's follow-up visits) and compared to the cost of clinical follow-up with daily simple dressing changes. Results: The proposed treatment was on average 55.71% more economical than the management with daily dressings (approximately US$452.32 versus US$1,021.39). Conclusion: Radical varicose vein surgery associated with the use of the Unna boot proved meaningly less expensive for the public health system than clinical follow-up with daily dressings.
ISSN:2317-6385
DOI:10.1590/s1679-45082011gs1984