A cost-to-benefit analysis of blood products used during the initiation of an orthotopic liver transplantation programme
Robson, S.C.; Kahn, D.; Gordon, P.; Jacobs, P.
South African Journal of Surgery. Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Vir Chirurgie 33(4): 154-158
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0038-2361 PMID: 8677465 Document Number: 452008
Orthotopic transplantation is the treatment of choice for selected patients with end-stage post-necrotic and cholestatic liver diseases. These individuals typically have disturbed haemostasis, which reflects both impaired hepatic synthesis of clotting factors and disseminated intravascular coagulation compounded by large-volume transfusions of blood products occasionally required during surgery. The latter contribute significantly to the cost of this procedure, but may approximate the cumulative consumption of that required for the support of patients in liver failure. Perspective is provided by prospective analysis of data from the first 10 patients in the current programme. There were striking, if transient, intra-operative changes in standard laboratory parameters of coagulation and fibrinolysis; all patients were readily controlled with replacement therapy administered according to serial haemostatic measurements combined with clinical judgement. In most patients these values had stabilised within 24 hours of surgery. Those with post-necrotic liver cirrhosis had the most marked degrees of hepatic dysfunction, reflected in more profound haemostatic disturbances; these patients required the largest amounts of blood products. Inclusive median costs for the first year were estimated at R35,000 and for the first 5 years at R60,000, with 80% of the patients expected to be alive between 5 and 10 years later and enjoying an excellent quality of life. These figures contrast with those estimated for optimal medical and non-transplant surgical management following variceal bleeding as a major complication of liver disease (R30,000 for the first year and R70,000 at 3 years). In addition, the latter patients would usually be unable to work and have a poor quality of life with minimal likelihood of survival beyond this point. We conclude that with a multidisciplinary approach in an academic centre, surgical replacement of the irreversibly damaged liver in properly selected patients is no more expensive and has a better outcome than acceptable alternative approaches.