A cost analysis of two- versus three-instrument robotic-assisted inguinal hernia repair with mesh: time is money

AbstractEquipment expenses and operating times can lead to higher costs with robotic surgery. We compared the cost-effectiveness of 2- vs. 3-instrument (2i vs. 3i) approach to robotic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair. We conducted a retrospective study of 172 patients, with 86 patients in each group. Procedure cost, operative time, morbidity, length of stay, readmission rate, and hernia recurrence at 90  days were compared. Statistical significance was assigned top <  0.05. No significant differences in preoperative variables nor in postoperative outcomes were identified. Mean operative time was 6 min longer in the 2i group and this approach cost $300 less. The 2i approach was cost-effective for operating room (OR) costs of less than $50 per minute. Surgeon e fficiency and OR dollar-per-minute value influence the potential for cost savings with fewer instruments in robotic herniorrhaphy. There is no difference in outcomes when fewer instruments are used.
Source: Journal of Robotic Surgery - Category: Surgery Source Type: research