title: Cost Differences Between Open and Minimally Invasive Surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the cost difference between minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and open surgery from a commercial payer perspective for colectomy, ventral hernia repair, thoracic resection (resection of the lung), and hysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective claims data analysis was conducted using the 2011 and 2012 Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounter Database. Study eligibility criteria included age 18-64 years, pharmacy coverage, ≥ 1 month of eligibility in 2012, and a claim coded with 1 of the 4 surgical procedures of interest; the index year was 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Average allowed facility and professional costs were calculated during inpatient stay (or day of surgery for outpatient hysterectomy) and the 30 days after discharge for MIS vs open surgery. Cost difference was compared after adjusting for presence of cancer, geographic region, and risk profile (age, gender, and comorbidities).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 46,386 cases in the 2012 MarketScan database represented one of the surgeries of interest. The difference in average allowed surgical procedure cost (facility and professional) between open surgery vs adjusted MIS was $10,204 for colectomy; $3,721, ventral hernia repair; $12,989, thoracic resection; and $1,174, noncancer hysterectomy (P < .001 for all comparisons).The difference in average allowed cost in the 30 days after surgery between open surgery vs adjusted MIS was $1,494 for colectomy, $1,320 for ventral hernia repair, negative $711 for thoracic resection, and negative $425 for noncancer hysterectomy (P < .001 for all comparisons, except P = .487 for thoracic resection).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MIS was associated with statistically significantly lower costs than open surgery for all 4 analyzed surgeries.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fitch
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bochner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult