Economic evaluation of immediate administration of tranexamic acid after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemmorage

Abstract: A recent randomised medical study by Hillman et al (97) has proved that an immediate administration of tranexamic acid reduced the incidence of early rebleeding after aneurismal subarachnoid haemorrhage. The cost of the tranexamic acid is negligible and has few side effects but the reduced incidence rate may have far-reaching effects on the societal and clinical treatment costs, therefore justifying an economic analysis. Our primary objective is to make a retrospective study of the incremental cost-utility ratios, from the treatment clinic and societal perspective, incorporating direct and indirect costs, for short-term application of the antifibrinolytica Cyklokapron with a do-nothing alternative as comparator. The do-nothing alternative is the standard treatment of patients with diagnosed aneurismal subarachnoid haemorrhage. We will also try to estimate societal willingness-to-pay. Since the available data is limited, our secondary objective is to try illuminate the need for further research and methods for future economic evaluation.