Endometrial cancer surgery costs: robot vs laparoscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare surgical costs for endometrial cancer staging between robotic-assisted and traditional laparoscopic methods.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review from November 2005 to July 2006 (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).


METHODS
Non-university-affiliated teaching hospital.


METHODS
Thirty-three women with diagnosed endometrial cancer undergoing hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and pelvic and paraaortic lymph node resection.


METHODS
Patients underwent either robotic or traditional laparoscopic surgery without randomization.


RESULTS
Hospital cost data were obtained for operating room time, instrument use, and disposable items from hospital billing records and provided by the finance department. Separate overall hospital stay costs were also obtained. Mean operative costs were higher for robotic procedures ($3323 vs $2029; p<.001), due in part to longer operating room time ($1549 vs $1335; p=.03). The more significant cost difference was due to disposable instrumentation ($1755 vs $672; p<.001). Total hospital costs were also higher for robotic-assisted procedures ($5084 vs $ 3615; p=.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Robotic surgery costs were significantly higher than traditional laparoscopy costs for staging of endometrial cancer in this small cohort of patients.
Holtz
David O
DO
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Main Line Health Care, Lankenau Hospital, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania 19096, USA. holtzd@mlhs.org
Miroshnichenko
Gennady
G
Finnegan
Mark O
MO
Chernick
Michael
M
Dunton
Charles J
CJ
D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000191:economics; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000191:economics; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012371:Robotics / Q000191:economics*