BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate whether the learning curve during laparoscopic colectomy is associated with increased costs compared with the procedure after the learning curve has been achieved. METHODS: The direct costs for patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy during the learning curve (group A) and after the attainment of proficiency by two colorectal surgeons performing the procedure (group B) between 2001 and 2007 were compared. The learning curve was defined as the first 40 laparoscopic colectomy cases for each surgeon. The distribution of cases for the surgeons ensured that cost-related differences were not influenced by lead time bias of cases performed during the learning curve. RESULTS: The study involved 80 group A and 74 group B patients. Groups A and B were similar in terms of age (P = 0.7), gender (P = 0.5), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (P = 0.5), body mass index (P = 0.3), diagnosis (P = 0.8), previous abdominal surgery (P = 0.07), and comorbidity (P = 0.4). The two groups also were similar with regard to performance of anastomosis (P = 0.2) or resection (P = 0.6), conversion to open surgery (P = 0.7), postoperative morbidity (P = 0.6), readmission (P = 0.1), reoperation rate (P = 0.6), and hospital length of stay (P = 0.6). The operation time was significantly longer for group A (P = 0.01). The total direct costs (P = 0.7) and the operating room (P = 0.6), nursing (P = 0.7), pharmacy (P = 0.9), radiology (P = 1), and professional (P = 0.051) costs were however similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: As expected, laparoscopic colectomy during the learning curve period is associated with prolonged operating time. Concerns pertaining to increased conversions, complications, and direct costs during this period were not substantiated in this study.
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate whether the learning curve during laparoscopic colectomy is associated with increased costs compared with the procedure after the learning curve has been achieved. METHODS: The direct costs for patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy during the learning curve (group A) and after the attainment of proficiency by two colorectal surgeons performing the procedure (group B) between 2001 and 2007 were compared. The learning curve was defined as the first 40 laparoscopic colectomy cases for each surgeon. The distribution of cases for the surgeons ensured that cost-related differences were not influenced by lead time bias of cases performed during the learning curve. RESULTS: The study involved 80 group A and 74 group B patients. Groups A and B were similar in terms of age (P = 0.7), gender (P = 0.5), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (P = 0.5), body mass index (P = 0.3), diagnosis (P = 0.8), previous abdominal surgery (P = 0.07), and comorbidity (P = 0.4). The two groups also were similar with regard to performance of anastomosis (P = 0.2) or resection (P = 0.6), conversion to open surgery (P = 0.7), postoperative morbidity (P = 0.6), readmission (P = 0.1), reoperation rate (P = 0.6), and hospital length of stay (P = 0.6). The operation time was significantly longer for group A (P = 0.01). The total direct costs (P = 0.7) and the operating room (P = 0.6), nursing (P = 0.7), pharmacy (P = 0.9), radiology (P = 1), and professional (P = 0.051) costs were however similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: As expected, laparoscopic colectomy during the learning curve period is associated with prolonged operating time. Concerns pertaining to increased conversions, complications, and direct costs during this period were not substantiated in this study.
Authors: Ruben Veldkamp; Esther Kuhry; Wim C J Hop; J Jeekel; G Kazemier; H Jaap Bonjer; Eva Haglind; Lars Påhlman; Miguel A Cuesta; Simon Msika; Mario Morino; Antonio M Lacy Journal: Lancet Oncol Date: 2005-07 Impact factor: 41.316
Authors: J W Fleshman; H Nelson; W R Peters; H C Kim; S Larach; R R Boorse; W Ambroze; P Leggett; R Bleday; S Stryker; B Christenson; S Wexner; A Senagore; D Rattner; J Sutton; A P Fine Journal: Dis Colon Rectum Date: 1996-10 Impact factor: 4.585
Authors: Peter W Marcello; James W Fleshman; Jeffrey W Milsom; Thomas E Read; Tracey D Arnell; Elisa H Birnbaum; Daniel L Feingold; Sang W Lee; Matthew G Mutch; Toyooki Sonoda; Yan Yan; Richard L Whelan Journal: Dis Colon Rectum Date: 2008-04-17 Impact factor: 4.585
Authors: Miguel Toledano Trincado; Javier Sánchez Gonzalez; Francisco Blanco Antona; Maria Luz Martín Esteban; Laura Colao García; Jorge Cuevas Gonzalez; Agustin Mayo Iscar; Jose Ignacio Blanco Alvarez; Juan Carlos Martín del Olmo Journal: JSLS Date: 2014 Jul-Sep Impact factor: 2.172