Robotic Hysterectomy: Everybody's Doing It!

Acohort study done by Columbia University evaluating the rise of robotic hysterectomy from 2007-2010 had some pretty breathtaking findings.Use ofrobotically assisted hysterectomy increased from 0.5% in 2007 to 9.5% of all hysterectomies in 2010. During the same time period, laparoscopic hysterectomy rates increased from 24.3% to 30.5%. Three years after the first robotic procedure at hospitals where robotically assisted hysterectomy was performed, robotically assisted hysterectomy accounted for 22.4% of all hysterectomies.... In a propensity score –matched analysis, theoverall complication rates were similar for robotic-assisted and laparoscopic hysterectomy (5.5% vs 5.3%).......Total costs associated with robotically assisted hysterectomy were $2189 (95% CI, $2030-$2349) more per case than for laparoscopic hysterectomy.So here we have an exponential rise in robotic hysterectomy over a relatively short period of time without any tangible benefit to the patient.  Will anything come out of this?  Or will hospitals across the country continue to advertise their very own robotic programs on highway billboards and quarterly mailings?  In a nutshell, this is the very essence of why healthcare costs are spiralling out of control.  We never hesitate to implement the "latest hot innovation" no matter how expensive it is, no matter how little it improves the quality of care.  When a nation collectively decides to t...
Source: Buckeye Surgeon - Category: Surgery Authors: Source Type: blogs