Endometrial cancer surgery costs: robot vs laparoscopy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare surgical costs for endometrial cancer staging between robotic-assisted and traditional laparoscopic methods.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review from November 2005 to July 2006 (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).

SETTING

Non-university-affiliated teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

Thirty-three women with diagnosed endometrial cancer undergoing hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and pelvic and paraaortic lymph node resection.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients underwent either robotic or traditional laparoscopic surgery without randomization.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Hospital cost data were obtained for operating room time, instrument use, and disposable items from hospital billing records and provided by the finance department. Separate overall hospital stay costs were also obtained. Mean operative costs were higher for robotic procedures ($3323 vs $2029; p<.001), due in part to longer operating room time ($1549 vs $1335; p=.03). The more significant cost difference was due to disposable instrumentation ($1755 vs $672; p<.001). Total hospital costs were also higher for robotic-assisted procedures ($5084 vs $ 3615; p=.002).

CONCLUSION

Robotic surgery costs were significantly higher than traditional laparoscopy costs for staging of endometrial cancer in this small cohort of patients.