Comparison of outcome and costs of robotic and laparoscopic right hemicolectomies

AbstractTo compare the outcomes of patients undergoing right hemicolectomy using laparoscopic or robotic approaches and perform a cost analysis. Retrospective review of all patients undergoing elective laparoscopic and robotic right hemicolectomies at a public and private hospital in NSW/QLD from January 2015 to June 2018. Cost analysis was calculated using actual and estimated costs by the local health district. A total of 101 patients were identified. 59 (58%) had Robotic resection, of which 44 (75%) had an intra-corporeal anastomosis. There were no demographic or oncological differences between the two groups. The robotic group had a significantly earlier time to bowels opening (2 vs 4  days,p  <  0.001) and shorter length of stay (3 vs 5 days,p  <  0.001). The robotic group had a lower rate of ileus (2% vs 14%,p  =  0.02) and complications (5% vs 33%,p  =  0.006). The mean lymph node harvest was higher in the robotic group (18 vs 14,p  =  0.001). The operative time was longer in the robotic group (110 vs 97 min,p  =  0.021). The total instrument costs of robotic surgery were A$2565.37 compared with $1507.50 for laparoscopic surgery. The cost of bed days was A$1167.00/day. The average difference in cost of care was calculated as A$1276.13 and A$464.43 less in the robotic with intra-corporeal and extra-corporea l anastomosis, respectively. Patients have significantly faster return to bowel function and shorter length of stay after Robotic vs...
Source: Journal of Robotic Surgery - Category: Surgery Source Type: research