Is robotic surgery cost-effective:  yes.
OBJECTIVE
With the expanding use of new technology in the treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer (PCa), the financial burden on the healthcare system and the individual has been important. Robotics offer many potential advantages to the surgeon and the patient. We assessed the potential cost-effectiveness of robotics in urological surgery and performed a comparative cost analysis with respect to other potential treatment modalities.


RESULTS
The direct and indirect costs of purchasing, maintaining, and operating the robot must be compared to alternatives in treatment of localized PCa. Some expanding technologies including intensity-modulated radiation therapy are significantly more expensive than robotic surgery. Furthermore, the benefits of robotics including decreased length of stay and return to work are considerable and must be measured when evaluating its cost-effectiveness.


CONCLUSIONS
Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery comes at a high cost but can become cost-effective in mostly high-volume centers with high-volume surgeons. The device when utilized to its maximum potential and with eventual market-driven competition can become affordable.
Department of Urology, University of Montreal Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Daniel
D
Liberman
Quoc-Dien
QD
Trinh
Claudio
C
Jeldres
Kevin C
KC
Zorn
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D016730:Program Development / Q000191:economics; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery*; D012371:Robotics / Q000191:economics*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome