The cost of ventilator-dependent spinal cord injuries-patients in the hospital and at home.

The number of ventilator-dependent SCI-patients is increasing steadily but also are the costs of adequate treatment in and outside hospital. Various technical aids for ventilation, mobility, nursing, and individual needs are available for a qualified life in the family, but the costs of these add up to $116.450. As phrenic nerve stimulators are very expensive, the cost for permanent ventilation cannot be reduced although diaphragmatic pacemakers have a real significant benefit for the patient's independence and quality of life. As the hospital charge is equal for all paraplegic, tetraplegic and ventilator-dependent patients including all medical and rehabilitative treatments, drugs and disposable materials, SCI-departments have a marked financial reduction of $481 daily compared with the amount of $1027 which has to be raised daily for the qualified care at home. This challenge can only be met by help from the community and from insurance companies and it is only then possible to provide these severely disabled patients with a good quality of life.