[The cost of liver transplantation at a university hospital of Brazil].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate if liver transplants were cost effective at a University Hospital of Ceará.


METHODS
We evaluated data from the medical records of 62 liver transplant patients performed in 2007, from the day of admission for the transplant to the date of discharge or death. Indicators such as length of hospital stay and location ,quantity of medical material and medication used, as well as the investigations and procedures performed were determined.


RESULTS
The population was mostly male from the Northeast of Brazil with an mean age of 45 years. The mean total cost of a liver transplant was US$20,605.01. The largest part was payment for the professional team involved in the liver removal and transplant, followed by hospital stay , medication used during surgery and hospitalization, and products (medication and materials) used in the liver removal. According to the current schedule, the SUS made the following payments to HUWC; US$1,322.97 for liver removal, US$3,223.56 for medical fees and US$32,235.68 for the package including the complete surgical procedure, hospital expenses and care up to the seventh day of hospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
Results were similar to those found by other Brazilian transplant centers. Liver transplantation in Ceará is an economically viable procedure based upon the financial transfer from SUS.
Portela
Milena Pontes
MP
Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE. milenaportela@yahoo.com.br
Neri
Eugenie Desiree Rabelo
ED
Fonteles
Marta Maria França
MM
Garcia
José Huygens Parente
JH
Fernandes
Maria Eneida Porto
ME
D001938:Brazil; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged