title: Economic outcomes of laparoscopic versus open surgery for colorectal cancer in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the economic outcomes of laparoscopic surgery (LAP) with those of open surgery (OS) for colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared operating room (OR) costs, OR hospital-profits, total hospital charges, and payments made for 67 consecutive patients who underwent either OS (n = 41) or LAP (n = 26) for colorectal cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operating time was longer in the LAP group (P < 0.001), but the hospital stay was shorter (P < 0.001). OR costs were higher in the LAP group, which was primarily attributed to the higher costs of consumables (LAP 1441, OS 575 dollars; P < 0.001) and the longer operating time (LAP 215 min, OS 155 min; P < 0.001). Total hospital charges were also higher after LAP (LAP 5017 dollars, OS 4093 dollars; P < 0.001). Patients paid more after LAP (P < 0.001), but there was no significant difference between the two groups in National Health Insurance Corporation payments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic surgery is less cost-effective than OS for colorectal cancer. The higher costs of consumables and the longer operating time associated with LAP must be addressed to make LAP more cost-effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 300 Gumi-dong, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463-707, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yoo Shin
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sang-Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Taek-Gu
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Guineum
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.forename: Sung-Bum
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics*; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000191:economics*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies