The high cost of delayed graft function in cadaveric renal transplantation

The long-term graft survival of cadaveric kidney transplants that function immediately has been shown to be superior to the survival of kidneys the function of which is delayed. While the lesser one-year graft survival in patients with delayed graft function (DGF) would be thought to result in an increased cost, due to the higher graft failure rate and patients' return to dialysis, the direct cost of DGF on initial hospital care has been less well established. In the present study we analyze the financial impact of delayed graft function at a single institution, in which we compare hospital charges, which are a reflection of costs, in patients with prompt allograft function and in patients whose graft function was delayed. (DBO)