Cost-effectiveness of robot-assisted total hysterectomy for benign pathologies compared to open surgery: a retrospective study with propensity score.

BACKGROUND

Hysterectomy for benign pathologies is one of the most common gynecological surgeries. Over the past few years, robotic surgery has become an alternative to traditional surgery, but at a higher cost.

OBJECTIVE

Calculate the cost-effectiveness of robot-assisted hysterectomy (RAH) compared with open hysterectomy (OH) for the purpose of supporting public decision-making, as well as the additional cost per major postoperative complication (ClavienDindo score ≥ 3) avoided one month after surgery robotic versus open surgery.

METHODS

Single-center retrospective study including patients operated on for benign hysterectomy at La Pitié Salpêtrière hospital between January 2016 and December 2019: 24 by robotic approach, and 54 by open surgery. Comparison of robotic surgery to open. Calculation of a cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Use of the propensity score inverse weighting method to ensure comparability of groups.

RESULTS

Robotic surgery has a total cost of €7704 at 1 month per patient compared to €5301 for open surgery with an additional cost of € 828,621 per major postoperative complication avoided, longer operating time and an absence of significant difference in terms of complications and length of hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

In terms of cost-effectiveness, RAH had a high probability to be more expensive and more effective than OH. In the years to come, we can expect a development of robotic surgery with rationalization of the practice, with appropriate selection of patients for robotic surgery, development of outpatient surgery and a reduction in the cost of the equipment.