Related Experiment Videos
Cost per anomaly: what does a diaphragmatic hernia cost?
A P Metkus1, L Esserman, A Sola
1Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0570, USA.
Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|February 1, 1995
Summary
The initial hospitalization for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) costs an average of $137,000. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) significantly increases costs for treating this leading cause of infant mortality.
Area of Science:
- Medical Economics
- Pediatric Surgery
- Neonatal Care
Background:
- Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality in the U.S., surpassing prematurity.
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) significantly contributes to infant morbidity and mortality.
- Estimates of the costs associated with individual birth defects are scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the initial hospitalization cost for infants diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).
- To analyze the financial impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on CDH treatment costs.
- To provide data for future cost comparisons and evaluation of new therapeutic strategies for CDH.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of hospital bills and professional fees for 35 infants undergoing postnatal CDH repair.
- Data collected from a single institution between January 1990 and December 1993.
- Comparison of costs between patients treated with and without ECMO.
Main Results:
- The average cost of initial hospitalization for CDH was $137,000 per patient.
- ECMO treatment dramatically increased the overall cost.
- The cost per survivor was $98,000 without ECMO and $365,000 with ECMO.
- The estimated annual cost of CDH in the U.S. exceeds $230 million.
Conclusions:
- CDH treatment incurs substantial healthcare costs, particularly when ECMO is required.
- The findings provide a baseline for cost-effectiveness analysis of CDH interventions.
- Strategies for cost reduction in CDH management should be explored.