Why is intestine transplant surgery so darn pricey?

[Kakarrott]

I was going through some lists of expensive operation and I found out that Intestine transplant costs around 1,2million dollars. The fact that it costs more than lungs or hearth transplant really impressed me but why its so pricey?
And how often is operation like this done? I was looking for it on google but aparently Iam not asking the right questions or something

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[doc05]

Organs are billed by weight. Since intestines are heavier than a heart, it costs more

 

[DoctwoB]

Intestines for transplant: 100,000$

3 month ICU stay: 2,000,000$

Lifetime of TPN dependence: priceless

 

[Kakarrott]

Oh I understand, it just seems too much for me, how can anyone afford this pricey operation.
Well Iam not so sure about american health care but we have been told here that most of the pacients have to pay for it themselves. Thus it sounds really, you know, not affordable :/

 

[Kakarrott]

That is completely inaccurate.

Then please, if it is not a big problem, can you tell me how is it really? (Gee I feel like it sounds sarcastic but it really is not)

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Then please, if it is not a big problem, can you tell me how is it really? (Gee I feel like it sounds sarcastic but it really is not)

In the US under normal circumstances insurance would cover it. I honestly have no idea if Medicaid would cover an operation like this, but I'm just a med student so that's way out of my are.

I think intestinal transplants are pretty uncommon and their outcomes generally aren't great anyway (at least in my limited understanding).

 

[310prolene]

Intestines for transplant: 100,000$

3 month ICU stay: 2,000,000$

Lifetime of TPN dependence: priceless

From what I've seen as a resident in a center that has a busy intestinal transplant program this made me lol cause it's so true.

 

[Kahreek]

Intestines for transplant: 100,000$

3 month ICU stay: 2,000,000$

Lifetime of TPN dependence: priceless

From what I've seen as a resident in a center that has a busy intestinal transplant program this made me lol cause it's so true.

if there is TPN dependence why the intestine transplant?

 

[Slack3r]

if there is TPN dependence why the intestine transplant?

I think that's the joke...

 

[Kahreek]

all this intestine transplant science is just a farce?

I think that's the joke...

 

[thedrjojo]

https://www.srtr.org/transplant-centers/?&organ=intestine&recipientType=adult&sort=volume

Busiest center in country last year did 20 adults (Cleveland Clinic) and only 13 places did any adults, and 95 total adult intestine transplants were performed.

53 pediatric intestinal Transplants were performed... Only Nebraska hitting double digits.

Intestines are the most immunogenic of the solid organ transplants, reject easily, get ****ed up by the immunosuppressive medications, and are just miserable to deal with. I specifically avoided the experience if I could when selecting my fellowship.