Lung transplantation is an important option for patients with end-stage lung disease. Many of these patients deteriorate rapidly and require inpatient care at the time of the transplant evaluation.
Research question: How does the setting of lung transplant evaluation relate to perioperative outcomes, short-term postoperative outcomes, and healthcare costs accrued after transplant?
Design: We reviewed the records of patients who underwent primary, bilateral lung transplantation at our center between January 1, 2014 and May 31, 2016. Patient evaluation setting was categorized as inpatient, outpatient, or combined. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and cost of care were assessed.
Results: The study included 207 patients: 40 (19.3%) evaluated as inpatients, 146 (70.5%) as outpatients, and 21 (10.1%) as combined. Inpatients had the highest mean lung allocation scores (71.2 vs 49.7 [combined] and 40.8 [outpatient]; P < 0.001), lowest functional status at listing (P < 0.001), highest number of blood products used during surgery (P < 0.001), highest incidence of re-exploration for bleeding (P = 0.006), and longest posttransplant hospital stays (median, 35 vs 15 days [combined] and 12 days [outpatient]; P < 0.001). One-year survival trended lower for inpatients (log-rank, P = 0.056). Inpatient evaluations had the highest total, variable, and fixed costs of posttransplant care (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Inpatient lung transplant evaluation was associated with longer hospital stays, higher perioperative morbidity, and lower 1-year survival. Partial or complete inpatient evaluation was associated with a higher cost of care posttransplant.
Keywords: cost; evaluation; inpatient; lung transplantation; outcomes; outpatient.