• Julian F Guest, Francis J Ruiz, Reiping Tang, Jeng-Yi Wang, Chung R Changchien, Steven Wexner, and Michael A Choti.
• CATALYST Health Economics Consultants, Northwood, UK. julian.guest@catalyst-health.co.uk
• Curr Med Res Opin. 2005 Mar 1; 21 (3): 447-55.

ObjectiveTo estimate the cost implications of blood transfusions and related surgical site infections (SSIs) in cancer patients undergoing elective colorectal resection in the hospital setting in the United States (US).Study DesignA modelling study was performed from the perspective of the hospital sector, based on published clinical outcomes from a study in Taiwan involving 2809 cancer patients who underwent elective colorectal resection using laparotomy and American treatment patterns.MethodsData on resource use were retrieved from published literature and from two American hospital centres specialising in colorectal cancer management. Decision analytical modelling was used to estimate the treatment costs and consequences of managing patients undergoing elective colorectal resection with and without blood transfusions.ResultsThe expected treatment costs of managing patients who required and did not require a blood transfusion were estimated to be US dollars 19,869 (95% CI: 15 797; 23 150) and US dollars 14,586 (95% CI: 14 263; 14 886) per patient respectively. Expected treatment costs for those patients transfused with 1-3 units and > 3 units of blood were estimated to be US dollars 17,449 and US dollars 22,588 per patient respectively.ConclusionThis is one of the first studies to specifically address the cost implications of postsurgical morbidity following colorectal resection in cancer patients. The cost of managing cancer patients undergoing elective colorectal resection who require a blood transfusion is expected to be 36% more than that of non-transfused patients, largely resulting from the development of SSIs.

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