Health care costs of laryngeal surgery.

The total costs of various laryngeal surgeries were considered from initial visit through one year postoperatively. For the four most widely used procedures, average costs were: laryngoscopy with biopsy, $1,000.00; hemilaryngectomy, $5,035.00; total laryngectomy $6,010.00; and supraglottic laryngectomy and neck dissection, $12,096.00. Most ancillary service charges decrease as length of hospitalization increases except for pharmacy and respiratory therapy. Physicians whose decisions affect health care should also take cognizance of health care costs.