Medknow Publications on behalf of the Neurological Society of India
Abstract
Summary: Head injuries account for significant proportion of
neurosurgical admissions and bed occupancy. Patients with head injuries
also consume significant proportions of neurosurgical resources. A
prospective 6-month study has been carried out to evaluate the
expenditure incurred on head injury patients in a modern neurosurgical
center equipped with state of the art infrastructure. Costing areas
included wages / salaries of health care personnel, cost of medicines /
surgical items / crystalloids, general store items, stationary, all
investigation charges, equipment cost, overhead building cost,
maintenance cost, electricity and water charges and cost of medical
gases, air conditioning and operation theatre expenses. Expenditure in
each area was calculated and apportioned to each bed. The statistical
analysis was done using χ2 test. The cost of stay in ward was
found to be Rs. 1062 / bed / day and in neurosurgical ICU Rs. 3082 /
bed / day. The operation theatre cost for each surgery was Rs. 11948.
The cost of hospital stay per day for minor, moderate and severe head
injury group was found to be Rs. 1921, Rs. 2569 and Rs. 2713
respectively. The patients who developed complications, the cost of
stay per day in the hospital were Rs. 2867. In the operative group, the
cost of hospital stay per day was Rs. 3804. The total expenditure in
minor head injury was Rs. 7800 per patient, in moderate head injury was
Rs. 22172 per patient, whereas in severe head injury, it was found to
be Rs. 32852 per patient. Patients who underwent surgery, the total
cost incurred was Rs. 33100 per operated patient