title: Laparoscopic versus open incisional hernia repair: a single-institution analysis of hospital resource utilization for 884 consecutive cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To analyze hospital resource utilization for laparoscopic vs open incisional hernia repair including the postoperative period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospectively collected administrative data for incisional hernia repairs were examined. A total of 884 incisional hernia repairs were examined for trends in type of approach over time. Starting October 2001, detailed records were available, and examined for operating room (OR) time, cost data, length of stay (LOS), and 30-day postoperative hospital encounters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total, 469 incisional hernias were approached laparoscopically (53%) and 415 open (47%). Laparoscopic repair had shorter LOS (1 +/- 0.2 days vs 2 +/- 0.6 days), longer OR time (149 +/- 4 min vs 89 +/- 4 min), higher supply costs (2,237 dollars +/- 71 dollars vs 664 dollars +/- 113 dollars), slightly lower total hospital cost (6,396 dollars +/- 477 dollars vs 7,197 dollars +/- 1,819 dollars), and slightly more postoperative hospital encounters (15% vs 13%). Use of laparoscopy increased over time (37% in 2000 vs 68% in 2004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair is becoming increasingly popular, and not at increased cost to the health care system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Baystate Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, MA 01199, USA. David.Earle@bhs.org
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Earle
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fellinger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perez
mesh_terms: D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000601:surgery*; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009873:Operating Rooms; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors