BACKGROUND: The Brazilian Public Health System (SUS) establishes that coronary angioplasties with implantation of two stents must not exceed 20% of the total amount of angioplasties performed, resulting in the necessity of staged procedures in the majority of the patients with multivessel coronary disease. The objective of this study was to compare the costs of the staged stent implantation policy, imposed by SUS, with the stent implantation approach considered ideal by the interventional cardiology team, in patients with multivessel coronary disease. METHODS: Costs were compared in a consecutive cohort of 100 patients with multivessel disease with indication of complete revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention. Coronary angiographies had been previously evaluated by the interventional cardiology team that had individualized the approach considered ideal for the treatment of each patient. Procedures were then performed in accordance to SUS multistage policy and the costs of the two treatment strategies were compared. Of note, a single stent implantation procedure costs R$4,298.00 according to the SUS price list. RESULTS: Mean age was 61.5±10.7 years, 66% were male, 43% diabetics and 67% had stable angina. Agreement in relation to the SUS staged procedures occurred in 44% and discordance in 56%. An excess of 58 procedures was detected, generating an additional cost of R$131,298.00. CONCLUSIONS: The multistaged approach imposed by SUS increases the number of procedures for coronary stent implantation in patients with multivessel disease and consequently increments the public expenses.
Stents; Myocardial revascularization; Health policy
