Leach Matthew J, Pincombe Jan, Foster Gigi
School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, North Terrace Adelaide, South Australia 5000.
Ostomy Wound Manage. 2006 Apr;52(4):68-70, 72-4, 76-8.
Venous leg ulcers affect approximately 0.6% of the western population, consuming millions of healthcare dollars every year. To determine whether an alternative venous ulcer treatment using horsechestnut seed extract-- Aesculus hippocastanum-- and conventional therapy involving dressings and compression was more cost-effective than using conventional therapy alone, a 12-week cost-benefit analysis of horsechestnut seed extract therapy was conducted. The study, using data from a 12-week prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in South Australia in 2002-2004, involved 54 patients with venous ulceration who received treatment through a large South Australian district nursing service. Taking into account the cost of horsechestnut seed extract, dressing materials, travel, staff salaries, and infrastructure for each patient, horsechestnut seed extract therapy combined with conventional therapy was found to be more cost-effective than conventional therapy alone with an average savings of AUD 95 in organizational costs and AUD 10 in dressing materials per patient. This study confirms that dressing change frequency has a significant impact on the total cost of wound care and suggests that district nursing service operation efficiency may be enhanced through the use of horsechestnut seed extract as a result of less frequent nursing visits. Further study of this treatment modality is warranted.
下肢静脉溃疡影响着约0.6%的西方人口，每年耗费数百万医疗费用。为了确定使用七叶树籽提取物（欧洲七叶树）的替代性静脉溃疡治疗方法与涉及敷料和加压的传统疗法相比是否比单独使用传统疗法更具成本效益，对七叶树籽提取物疗法进行了为期12周的成本效益分析。该研究利用了2002年至2004年在南澳大利亚进行的一项为期12周的前瞻性、随机、安慰剂对照试验的数据，涉及54名接受南澳大利亚一个大型地区护理服务机构治疗的静脉溃疡患者。考虑到每位患者的七叶树籽提取物、敷料材料、交通、员工工资和基础设施成本，发现七叶树籽提取物疗法与传统疗法相结合比单独使用传统疗法更具成本效益，每位患者平均节省组织成本95澳元和敷料材料成本10澳元。这项研究证实换药频率对伤口护理的总成本有重大影响，并表明由于护理访视频率降低，使用七叶树籽提取物可能会提高地区护理服务的运营效率。有必要对这种治疗方式进行进一步研究。
