PURPOSE: To compare the economic outcomes of laparoscopic surgery (LAP) with those of open surgery (OS) for colorectal cancer. METHODS: We compared operating room (OR) costs, OR hospital-profits, total hospital charges, and payments made for 67 consecutive patients who underwent either OS (n = 41) or LAP (n = 26) for colorectal cancer. RESULTS: The operating time was longer in the LAP group (P < 0.001), but the hospital stay was shorter (P < 0.001). OR costs were higher in the LAP group, which was primarily attributed to the higher costs of consumables (LAP 1441, OS 575 dollars; P < 0.001) and the longer operating time (LAP 215 min, OS 155 min; P < 0.001). Total hospital charges were also higher after LAP (LAP 5017 dollars, OS 4093 dollars; P < 0.001). Patients paid more after LAP (P < 0.001), but there was no significant difference between the two groups in National Health Insurance Corporation payments. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery is less cost-effective than OS for colorectal cancer. The higher costs of consumables and the longer operating time associated with LAP must be addressed to make LAP more cost-effective.
PURPOSE: To compare the economic outcomes of laparoscopic surgery (LAP) with those of open surgery (OS) for colorectal cancer. METHODS: We compared operating room (OR) costs, OR hospital-profits, total hospital charges, and payments made for 67 consecutive patients who underwent either OS (n = 41) or LAP (n = 26) for colorectal cancer. RESULTS: The operating time was longer in the LAP group (P < 0.001), but the hospital stay was shorter (P < 0.001). OR costs were higher in the LAP group, which was primarily attributed to the higher costs of consumables (LAP 1441, OS 575 dollars; P < 0.001) and the longer operating time (LAP 215 min, OS 155 min; P < 0.001). Total hospital charges were also higher after LAP (LAP 5017 dollars, OS 4093 dollars; P < 0.001). Patients paid more after LAP (P < 0.001), but there was no significant difference between the two groups in National Health Insurance Corporation payments. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery is less cost-effective than OS for colorectal cancer. The higher costs of consumables and the longer operating time associated with LAP must be addressed to make LAP more cost-effective.
Authors: M L Stead; J M Brown; N Bosanquet; P J Franks; P J Guillou; P Quirke; D Jayne; J R Monson; A V Webb Journal: Crit Rev Oncol Hematol Date: 2000-02 Impact factor: 6.312
Authors: Ka Lau Leung; Samuel P Y Kwok; Steve C W Lam; Janet F Y Lee; Raymond Y C Yiu; Simon S M Ng; Paul B S Lai; Wan Yee Lau Journal: Lancet Date: 2004-04-10 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Heidi Nelson; Daniel J Sargent; H Sam Wieand; James Fleshman; Mehran Anvari; Steven J Stryker; Robert W Beart; Michael Hellinger; Richard Flanagan; Walter Peters; David Ota Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2004-05-13 Impact factor: 91.245