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Cost-Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Liver Biopsy

table 3

table  3.   Probabilities and Cost Estimates Used in the Baseline Analysis and Range for Sensitivity Analysis


Clinical Variable US-Guided LBx
"Blind" Percutaneous LBx
Baseline Range Baseline Range

Major complication (%)  1% (0.25% to 2%)  2% (0.5% to 5%)
Minor complication (%) 37% (5% to 50%) 50% (5% to 50%)
Proportion of patients with minor complications requiring outpatient treatment 10% (5% to 20%) 10% (5% to 20%)

Economic Variables Baseline ($) Range ($)

Cost of percutaneous "blind" liver biopsy* 372 (200 to 1,000)
Additional cost of ultrasonography* 100 (0 to 500)
Cost of major complication* 5,000 (1,000 to 10,000)
Cost of minor complication (outpatient)* 560 (100 to 1,000)
Cost of minor complication (analgesics) 2 (1 to 10)

* See Appendix.

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