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Cost comparison of cadaveric liver transplantation with living-donor transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To compare the cost of cadaveric liver transplantation with adult-adult right hepatic lobe living-donor transplantation. METHOD: Total cost of 25 cadaveric liver transplantations and 22 adult-adult right hepatic lobe living-donor transplantations was considered from the day of hospital admission until the day of discharge. Professional fees and expenses due to postransplant complications and donor follow-up were not included. RESULTS: There was no difference in hospital stay between recipients of cadaveric transplantation (13.2± 4.1 days) and those of living-donor transplantation (15.4± 4.5 days). Costs of living-donor organ acquisition (US$ 4,975.08± 565.34) were higher than those of cadaveric organ donation (US$ 3,081.73± 305.57) (p<0.001). Implantation costs were similar for cadaveric and living-donor transplantation. Operating room and material costs were higher for living-donor transplantation and medications, exams and blood components costs were higher for cadaveric transplantation. The most expensive component of both cadaveric and living-donor liver transplantation was the cost of medications. Total cost was higher for living-donor transplantation (US$ 22,986.60± 1,477.09) than for cadaveric transplantation (US$ 21,582.90± 1,818.11) (p= 0.0022). CONCLUSIONS: Total cost of living-donor liver transplantation is higher than that of cadaveric transplantation.

Liver transplantation; Liver cirrhosis; Costs


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