Table 1.

Financial cost per procedure to hospital in Rands (US$1=ZAR15)

Item	Botulinum			Surgery
	Unit/pt	Unit cost/pt	Total pt cost	Unit/pt	Unit cost/pt	Total pt cost
Anaesthetic
Short line	1.0	15.00	15.00
Intravenous line				1.0	35.00	35.00
Ringers sol				1.0	8.68	8.68
Propofol (R38/50 mL)	5.0	0.76	3.80	5.0	0.76	3.80
Sevoflurane (R792.48/250 mL)	10.0	3.68	36.80	20.0	3.17	63.40
Laryngeal tube				1.0	70.00	70.00
Oral mask	1.0	4.00	4.00
miscellaneous			15.00			15.00
Surgical
Gloves	1.0	12.00	12.00	2.0	12.00	24.00
4/0 silk				2.0	81.46	162.92
5/0 vicryl				2.0	119.79	239.58
8/0 vicryl				1.0	138.96	138.96
cautery				1.0	75.00	75.00
Sponges/packet				1.0	48.00	48.00
Botulinum R1552.00/100 units*	10.0	15.52	155.20
Insulin syringes	2.0	1.00	2.00
Balance salt solution (10 mL)				1.0	12.00	12.00
TTO ointment				1.0	48.00	48.00
Time in theatre (min)†	11.0	50.00	550.00	72.0	50.00	3600.00
Staff required
Surgeon (R462.92/hour)	11.0	7.68	84.52	72.0	7.68	553.10
Anaesthetist (R462.92/hour)	11.0	7.68	84.52	72.0	7.68	553.10
Professional nurse (R150/hour)	11.0	2.50	27.50	72.0	2.50	180.00
Assistant nurse ×2 (R120/hour)	11.0×2	2.00	44.00	72.0×2	2.00	288.00
Recovery nurse (R150/hour)	15.0	2.50	37.50		2.50	75.00
Time in recovery	10.0	25.00	250.00	20.0	25.00	500.00
Fixed costs†*	2 hours	176.25	352.50	6 hours	176.25	1057.50
Total			1713.14			7743.04‡

*Cost of botulinum 100 units/8 patients.

†Cost of theatre based on gases used, microscope use, bedding @ZAR50/min (assumed 1/3 of private rates).

‡Cost for surgery if botulinum neurotoxin (BNT) given would be ZAR7900.24.

§Fixed cost—include water, electricity, ward stay @ ZAR4600/day, allowing for total hospital time of 2 hours for BNT and 6 hours for surgery.