title: Single-site laparoscopic colorectal surgery provides similar lengths of hospital stay and similar costs compared with standard laparoscopy: results of a retrospective cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study sought to compare the length of stay (LOS) and hospital costs for elective single-site (SSL) and standard laparoscopic (SDL) colorectal resections performed at a tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  An IRB-approved, retrospective cohort study of all elective SDL and SSL colorectal resections performed from 2008 to 2012 was undertaken. Patient charges and inflation adjusted hospital costs (US dollars) were compared with costs subcategorized by operating room expense, room and board, and pharmacy and radiology utilization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 149 SDL and 111 SSL cases were identified. Compared with SSL, SDL surgeries were associated with longer median operative times (SSL: 153 min vs. SDL: 189 min, p = 0.001); however, median operating room costs were similar (p > 0.05). Median postoperative LOS was similar for both groups (SSL: 3 days; SDL: 4 days; p > 0.05). There was no difference between SSL and SDL with respect to either total patient charges (SSL: $34,847 vs. SDL: $38,306; p > 0.05) or hospital costs (SSL: $13,051 vs. SDL: $12,703; p > 0.05). Median costs during readmission were lower for SSL patients (SSL: $3,625 vs. SDL: $6,203, p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SSL provides similar LOS as well as similar costs to both patients and hospitals compared with SDL, making it a cost-feasible alternative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery/Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, P.O. Box 850, H137, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA, dstewart@hmc.psu.edu.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Messaris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D017722:Hospital Charges; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000191:economics; D061646:Operative Time; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000191:economics; D010362:Patients' Rooms / Q000191:economics; D011871:Radiology / Q000191:economics; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies