title: Cost comparison between hand-assisted laparoscopic colectomy and open colectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to compare the costs associated with hand-assisted laparoscopic colectomy (HALC) and open colectomy (OC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of patients who underwent either HALC or OC between March 2009 and August 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The assessed short-term outcomes included operative time, blood lost, retrieved lymph nodes, conversion rates, and complications. Direct costs of operating room, nursing, intensive care, anesthesia, laboratory, pharmacy, radiology, and other costs related to initial hospitalization were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two patients underwent HALC, whereas 45 underwent OC. Demographics in both groups were similar. The HALC patients had significantly shorter hospital stays and incision lengths, faster recovery of bowel function, and less blood loss (P<.001). There were no significant differences in operative time (169 minutes for HALC versus 171 minutes for OC), complication rates, or the number of retrieved lymph nodes. Although operative costs were higher for HALC (US $2260 versus $1992; P<.001), total costs were not significantly different between both methods (US $5593 vs. $5638; P=.29).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total costs of HALC are not significantly higher compared with OC. HALC is safe and leads to better short-term outcomes than OC.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Gui-yu
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ying-gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qing-chao
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Xi-shan
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003082:Colectomy / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome