[Cost of of hospital management of cirrhoses and its complications at the University Hospital of Brazzaville].

This retrospective pilot study was conducted in a series of 166 patients hospitalized for the first time for management of cirrhosis with or without complications over a two-year period at the University Hospital Center in Brazzaville, Congo. Complications included ascitics, hepatic encephalopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Total care cost was determined by adding up expenditures for the initial examination, each day of hospitalization, adjuvant investigations, and administered medication. The mean per-patient cost was 272345 F CFA (415.79 [symbol: see text]) in cases involving ascites, 195675 F CFA (298.74 [symbol: see text]) in cases involving encephalopathy, 207935 F CFA (317.45 [symbol: see text]) in cases involving hepatocellular carcinoma, 245680 F CFA (375.08 [symbol: see text]) in cases involving gastrointestinal bleeding and 205615 F CFA (313.90 [symbol: see text]) in uncomplicated cases. These data document the high cost of hospital care for cirrhosis and related complications in Congo.