title: Laparoscopic splenectomy: reduction of hospital charges.
abstract: Laparoscopic splenectomy has become our procedure of choice for the surgical management of immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Hospital charges for this procedure were analyzed for 24 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic splenectomy. Total charges have decreased over time and average a $233 decrease per patient treated. The decreased charges are related to decreased operating room charges. Furthermore, charges are shown to be related to the length of postoperative stay. Choice of instrumentation has kept intraoperative charges for disposables stable.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Schlinkert
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weaver
mesh_terms: D001130:Arizona; D003363:Cost Control; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006770:Hospitals, Group Practice / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000191:economics; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors