title: Use of laparoscopic splenectomy in developing countries: analysis of cost and strategies for reducing cost.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In general, laparoscopic surgery is more expensive than open surgery. However, recent reports showed lower overall cost.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients underwent laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) and 15 patients open splenectomy (OS). Patients were evaluated with regard to blood loss, complication rate, length of hospital stay, operative time, presence of accessory spleens, hospital cost, and total cost. For the OS group, there was no laparoscopic instrument cost, and the total cost was equal to the hospital cost. In the LS group, total cost was calculated by adding the hospital cost to the cost of laparoscopic instruments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The postoperative hospitalization was shorter in the LS group than the OS group (3.4 vs. 7.5 days), but the operating time was significantly longer for the LS group. The mean hospital cost was calculated as US $1,055 in the LS group and $1,664 in the OS group. The overall total cost was $1,664 for the OS group and $2,064 for the LS group. In the LS group, less morbidity and shorter postoperative hospital stay resulted in lower hospital cost.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cost for laparoscopic instruments is the main factor responsible for the high total cost of LS. Resterilization of disposable laparoscopic instruments is feasible and a more economic way of treatment compared with splenectomy with totally disposable laparoscopic instruments and has costs comparable to those of open surgery.
authors.affiliation: Ankara Numune Teaching and Research Hospital, Turkey. enverokan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Enver Okan
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Hamamci
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Besim
authors.forename: Settar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bostanoglu
authors.forename: Muhittin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sonişik
authors.forename: Atila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes / Q000191:economics; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000191:economics*; D013997:Time Factors; D014421:Turkey