Overall care cost comparison between robotic and laparoscopic surgery for endometrial and cervical cancer.

The aim of our medico-economic study was to compare robotic surgery cost with conventional laparoscopic cost in endometrial and cervical cancer. Our study included laparoscopic and robot-assisted procedures (radical hysterectomies and lymphadenectomies) for endometrial or cervical cancer ever since first using the Da Vinci® in 2008 within a hospital setting. In the hospital perspective, direct costs were determined by examining the overall medical pathway for each type of intervention. Actual costs were calculated for 27 conventional laparoscopic procedures and for 30 robot-assisted procedures including initial cost of the robot and its maintenance. We estimated the complete medical "overall care" costs by adding the costs of consultations, surgery and post-operative hospital stay to the costs of any eventual emergency consultation and/or hospitalisation within the two months that followed surgery. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of variable modulations. For endometrial cancer, surgical procedure cost for robotic-assisted surgery was €7402 compared to €2733 for conventional laparoscopic surgery. When considering overall medical care, the patient treatment average cost was €6666 for the laparoscopic group (with an average length of stay of 5.27 days) as compared to €10,816 for robotic group (with an average hospital stay of 4.60 days), p=0.39. For cervical cancer, average surgical cost with robotic-assisted surgery was €8501 compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery at €3239. For cervical cancer, overall care average cost was €7803 for the laparoscopic group (with an average length of stay of 5.83 days) as compared to €12,211 for the robotic group (with an average hospital stay of 4.70 days) p=0.07. Sensitivity analysis results confirmed the cost overrun with the use of robotic assisted surgery. Conventional laparoscopy was less expensive in our institution than robotic-assisted surgery for the surgery of endometrial (1:2.7) and cervical (1:2.6) cancers. When considering overall medical care, the use of robotic-assisted surgery was found to be 1.6 times more expensive than conventional surgery.

Desille-Gbaguidi H ，Hebert T ，Paternotte-Villemagne J ，Gaborit C ，Rush E ，Body G ... -  《-》

Robotic hysterectomy versus conventional laparoscopic hysterectomy: outcome and cost analyses of a matched case-control study.

Robotic surgery, with its technical advances, promises to open a new window to minimally invasive surgery in gynaecology. Feasibility and safety of this surgical innovation have been demonstrated in several studies, and now a critical analysis of these new developments regarding outcome and costs is in place. So far only a few studies compare robotic with conventional laparoscopic surgery in gynaecology. Our objective was to evaluate our initial experience performing total robot-assisted hysterectomy with the da Vinci surgical system and compare peri-operative outcome and costs with total laparoscopic hysterectomy. For this prospective matched case-control study at our institution, peri-operative data from our first 40 consecutive total robot-assisted hysterectomies for benign indications were recorded and matched 1:1 with total laparoscopic hysterectomies according to age, BMI and uterus weight. Surgical costs were calculated for both procedures. Surgeons' subjective impressions of robotics were evaluated with a self-developed questionnaire. No conversions to laparotomy or severe peri-operative complications occurred. Mean operating time was 109 (113; 50-170) min for the robotic group and 83 (80; 55-165) min for the conventional laparoscopic group. Mean postoperative hospitalisation for robotic surgery was 3.3 (3; 2-6) days versus 3.9 (4; 2-7) days for the conventional laparoscopic group. Average surgical cost of a robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy was 4067 euros compared to 2151 euros for the conventional laparoscopic procedure at our institution. For the robotic group wider range of motion of the instruments and better ergonomics were considered to be an advantage, and lack of direct access to the patient was stated as a disadvantage. Robot-assited hysterectomy is a feasible and interesting new technique with comparable outcome to total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Operating times of total laparoscopic hysterectomy seem to be achieved quickly especially for experienced laparoscopic surgeons. However, costs of robotic surgery are still higher than for conventional laparoscopy. Randomised clinical trials need to be conducted to further evaluate benefits of this new technology for patients and surgeons and analyse its cost-effectiveness in gynaecology.

Sarlos D ，Kots L ，Stevanovic N ，Schaer G ... -  《-》

Hospital costs for robot-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy.

To compare robot-assisted laparoscopy and laparotomy for radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy in terms of hospital costs. Consecutive women undergoing radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy as a sole procedure between January 2001 and February 2012 were included. We compared OR times, hospital stay, procedure specific costs, blood transfusions and cost for readmissions and re-interventions until three months after surgery for 231 women operated who received either an open (n=51) or a robot-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (n=180). The hospital internal charges and purchase costs were used for estimation. The specific robotic cost was based on an investment depreciation time of seven years, with 400 operations performed annually, costs for maintenance, robotic instruments, robot-specific assistant's instruments and robot draping. The estimated mean costs for an open radical hysterectomy was $12,986, for the first 30 robotic radical hysterectomies was $18,382, and for the last 30 was $12,759, with a break even in cost after 90 robotic procedures. The specific robot costs ($3469) was, for the last robot cohort, compensated mainly by an average of 22 min shorter OR time and 4.9 days shorter hospital stay. Given 400 robot operations annually, and only after a substantial implementation period, it is feasible to perform robot-assisted radical hysterectomy at an equal hospital cost compared with open surgery.

Reynisson P ，Persson J 《-》

Comparison of outcomes and cost for endometrial cancer staging via traditional laparotomy, standard laparoscopy and robotic techniques.

Bell MC ，Torgerson J ，Seshadri-Kreaden U ，Suttle AW ，Hunt S ... -  《-》

Endometrial cancer surgery costs: robot vs laparoscopy.

To compare surgical costs for endometrial cancer staging between robotic-assisted and traditional laparoscopic methods. Retrospective chart review from November 2005 to July 2006 (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). Non-university-affiliated teaching hospital. Thirty-three women with diagnosed endometrial cancer undergoing hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and pelvic and paraaortic lymph node resection. Patients underwent either robotic or traditional laparoscopic surgery without randomization. Hospital cost data were obtained for operating room time, instrument use, and disposable items from hospital billing records and provided by the finance department. Separate overall hospital stay costs were also obtained. Mean operative costs were higher for robotic procedures ($3323 vs $2029; p<.001), due in part to longer operating room time ($1549 vs $1335; p=.03). The more significant cost difference was due to disposable instrumentation ($1755 vs $672; p<.001). Total hospital costs were also higher for robotic-assisted procedures ($5084 vs $ 3615; p=.002). Robotic surgery costs were significantly higher than traditional laparoscopy costs for staging of endometrial cancer in this small cohort of patients.

Holtz DO ，Miroshnichenko G ，Finnegan MO ，Chernick M ，Dunton CJ ... -  《Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology》