The Actual Operative Costs of Liver Transplantation and Normothermic Machine Perfusion in a Canadian Setting.

Abstract

BackgroundLiver transplantation is an effective treatment for end-stage liver disease. However, waiting lists continue to lengthen as demand exceeds supply. Use of extended criteria donors has helped but is associated with increased rates of complications. The application of normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) has been shown to be protective, especially in more marginal grafts. Despite this benefit, no cost-effectiveness studies have been published.ObjectiveThis study serves as a prelude to a cost-effectiveness analysis of the costs of liver procurement, transplantation, and machine perfusion in a Canadian setting.MethodsThe total costs were calculated for 106 in-province procurements, the set cost for 237 out-of-province procurements, and 343 liver transplantations. These costs include overheads, supplies, anaesthesia technologist and nursing salaries, and physician billings. Base and modified costs for all procedures were calculated, with consideration of physician billing modifiers. The total cost per run of NMP was calculated, with a range based on variations in the exchange rates for Great British pounds (₤) to Canadian dollars ($Can), year 2019 values.ResultsCosts were $Can30,770.22 for in-province and $Can44,636.73 for out-of-province liver procurement and transplantation. These increased to $Can35,659.22 and 48,076.18 when considering modifiers. The minimum cost per NMP run was $Can18,593.02.ConclusionsAlthough the cost per run is substantial, NMP could potentially lead to cost savings by decreasing night-time salary premiums, complications, and patient length of stay. A formal cost-effectiveness study of NMP in liver transplantation is underway to help clarify the financial benefit or burden of this new technology.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s41669-020-00241-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.