The effects of laparoscopic surgery and nosocomial infections on the cost of care: evidence from three common surgical procedures.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the cost of care for laparoscopic versus open surgery and the added cost of nosocomial infections for three common surgical procedures: cholecystectomy, hysterectomy, and appendectomy.


METHODS
The Cardinal Health database repository was utilized to extract reimbursement data for laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy, hysterectomy, and appendectomy surgical procedures. Utilizing a 22-hospital sample and a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant clinical data extraction technique, the Cardinal Health database repository produced a Nosocomial Infection Marker to identify and track nosocomial infection rates for these procedures. ICD-9 codes were utilized to identify 10,731 patients who had undergone these procedures between September 2004 and December 2006. Multivariable linear regression models were estimated to isolate the effects of laparoscopic versus open surgery and nosocomial infections on the cost of care.


RESULTS
Laparoscopic surgery significantly reduces the overall cost of care for cholecystectomies, hysterectomies, and appendectomies. Controlling for the cost of nosocomial infection, incremental cost savings from laparoscopic versus open surgery for all three procedures average $1608. Cholecystectomy has the largest savings ($3299), followed by hysterectomy ($1385) and appendectomy ($1032). These cost savings in part reflect that patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures have shorter lengths of stay. In contrast, nosocomial infection increases costs substantially for each surgery type, raising costs for cholecystectomy by $4794, hysterectomy by $4528, and appendectomy by $6108.


CONCLUSIONS
The cost of care for laparoscopic surgery is lower than open surgery for cholecystectomy, hysterectomy, and appendectomy. This conclusion is based on actual hospital reimbursement data.
Gunnarsson
Candace
C
S2 Statistical Solutions, Inc., Cincinnati, OH 45242, USA. clgunnarsson@cinci.rr.com
Rizzo
John A
JA
Hochheiser
Louis
L
D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D017046:Cost Savings; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000191:economics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult