title: Disposable laparoscopic surgical instruments and the economic effects of repackaging.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the economic effects of repackaging disposable laparoscopic surgical instruments. We repacked a total of 28 disposable instruments for gynecologic laparoscopic surgery into one package. The time of preparation of surgical instruments, the amount of medical waste, and other economic effects were compared before and after the repackaging of disposable instruments. The time required for the preparation of surgical instruments was shortened by 22 minutes per operation, and medical waste decreased by 400 g, by repackaging the instruments, resulting in an estimated direct economic saving of $10,000 per year. Indirect economic effects might include savings due to a reduced inventory of surgical instruments and simplified cost-accounting for each operation. It is likely that preparation for surgery can be significantly improved and the cost reduced by repackaging the laparoscopic surgical instruments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. hirotake@med.juntendo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Iwaho
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitade
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kumakiri
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takehiro
authors.forename: Emiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tanimura
mesh_terms: D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000191:economics; D004526:Efficiency; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D020706:Laparoscopes / Q000191:economics*; D008506:Medical Waste / Q000191:economics; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000191:economics; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008506:Medical Waste