Cost-Effectiveness and Clinical Outcomes of Double J Stent Versus Percutaneous Feeding Tube Placement Following Open Pyeloplasty in Pediatric Patients: A Prospective Randomized Single-center Study

Overview

Open pyeloplasty is a common surgical intervention for pediatric patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Post-operative management strategies, including the use of a double J stent and a percutaneous feeding tube, vary widely. While both options have demonstrated effectiveness in drainage, their relative clinical outcomes, costs, and overall value in pediatric urology remain unclear. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to compare the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of these two post-operative interventions in pediatric patients undergoing open pyeloplasty.

This is going to be a prospective randomized study of pediatric patients undergoing open pyeloplasty in Department of Pediatric Urology, Institute of Kidney Diseases, Peshawar. After obtaining approval from the ethical committee board of the hospital. The aim and benefits of the study will be well explained to the parents of all the patients, and they will be briefed as well that no risk is involved while participating in this study. Then informed consent will be obtained and the patients will be randomly assigned to receive either a double J stent or a percutaneous feeding tube for post-operative drainage. Randomization will be performed using block randomization to ensure balance between groups. A mix of both consecutive and purposive sampling technique to recruit patient until the desire sample size is reached. The primary outcomes included pain relief, the rate of complications like post op infection, obstruction, and length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes included incidence of re-operations, and cost analysis of the two interventions. A cost-effectiveness analysis will be conducted from the healthcare provider's perspective, considering direct medical costs (surgical, hospitalization, and follow-up care) and the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for each group. Data will be analyses using SPSS and results will be reported