The Systematic Use of Fibrin-Based Biological Adhesive to Prevent Leakage Due to Healing Defects in Rectal Anastomosis Significantly Reduces Costs

Objective: To analyse hospital costs in the pre-, and intraand post-operative periods associated with patients undergoing rectal resection with anastomosis, comparing the costs per patient with and without the use of fibrin-based biological adhesive(Tissucol Duo ® ). Methods: The cost analysis was designed with a subsample of 37 patients who underwent rectal anastomosis in a randomised, single-blind, controlled, parallel comparison between two groups, to evaluate the effectiveness of fibrin-based biological adhesive used to prevent anastomotic leakage. The total costs included diagnostic tests, laboratory tests, hospital stay, adhesive cost, surgery, reintervention and drug treatment. Results: The patients had a mean age of 64.33 years, with a higher proportion of men (62.2%). The study groups were homogeneous and comparable. The average total cost in the group with biological adhesive was€ 10,304.84 compared to € 17,845.12 in the group without biological adhesive. Significant differences were found in the average cost of reintervention between groups: € 119.76 with adhesive vs. € 639.20 for the control group. Conclusions: The total cost decreased by 42% in the group in which a biological adhesive was applied compared to the group in which the adhesive was not applied. This percentage represented a difference of € 7,540.28 in the total average cost per patient.