FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THORACOABDOMINAL ANEURYSM REPAIR

We have reviewed our experience regarding hospital costs and reimburse ment for 72 patients who underwent thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair. P reoperative risk factors, postoperative complications, length of stay, and source of reimbursement were recorded for all patients. Patients covered by Medicare resulted in a mean net institutional loss of $16,4 72 per patient, whereas a mean net profit of $17,847 per patient resul ted from patients with commercial insurance. Factors associated with i nstitutional financial loss were: age over 75 years, preoperative coro nary disease, postoperative respiratory failure, and length of stay. B y multivariate analysis, however, only length of stay was independentl y associated with institutional loss.