Robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic colectomy: cost and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic colectomies, with and without robotic assistance, are performed to treat both benign and malignant colonic disease. This study compared clinical and economic outcomes for laparoscopic colectomy procedures with and without robotic assistance. METHODS: Patients aged ≥18 years having primary inpatient laparoscopic colectomy procedures (cecectomy, right hemicolectomy, left hemicolectomy, and sigmoidectomy) identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition procedure codes performed between 2009 and the second quarter of 2011 from the Premier Hospital Database were studied. Patients were matched to a control cohort using propensity scores for disease, comorbidities, and hospital characteristics and were matched 1:1 for specific colectomy procedure. The outcomes of interest were hospital cost of laparoscopic robotic-assisted colectomy compared with traditional laparoscopic colectomy, surgery time, adverse events, and length of stay. RESULTS: Of 25,758 laparoscopic colectomies identified, 98% were performed without robotic assistance and 2% were performed with robotic assistance. After matching, 1066 patients remained, 533 in each group. Lengths of stay were not significantly different between the matched cohorts, nor were rates of major, minor, and/or surgical complications. Inpatient procedures with robotic assistance were significantly more costly than those without robotic assistance ($17,445 vs $15,448, P = .001). Operative times were significantly longer for robotic-assisted procedures (4.37 hours vs 3.34 hours, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Segmental colectomies can be performed safely by either laparoscopic or robotic-assisted methods. Increased per-case hospital costs for robotic-assisted procedures and prolonged operative times suggest that further investigation is warranted when considering robotic technology for routine laparoscopic colectomies.

Comparing robot-assisted thoracic surgical lobectomy with conventional video-assisted thoracic surgical lobectomy and wedge resection: results from a multihospital database (Premier).

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracic surgical (VATS) lobectomies and wedge resections result in less morbidity and shorter length of stay than resections via thoracotomy. The impact of robot-assisted thoracic surgical (RATS) lobectomy on clinical and economic outcomes has not been examined. This study compared hospital costs and clinical outcomes for VATS lobectomies and wedge resections versus RATS. METHODS: Using the Premier hospital database, patients aged ≥18 years with a record of thoracoscopic lobectomy, segmental resection, or excision of a lesion or tissue from the lung between 2009 and 2011 were identified. Procedures using robotic technology were identified if 1 of 2 conditions were met: (1) a robotic International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision procedure code or (2) the text fields in the hospital record indicated that the robot was used. Using a propensity score and based on severity and comorbidities, certain demographics and hospital characteristics were matched. The association between VATS or RATS and adverse events, hospital costs, surgery time, and length of stay was examined. RESULTS: Of 15,502 patient records analyzed, 96% (n = 14,837) were performed without robotic assistance. Using robotic assistance was associated with higher average hospital costs per patient. The average cost of inpatient procedures with RATS was $25,040.70 versus $20,476.60 for VATS (P = .0001) for lobectomies and $19,592.40 versus $16,600.10 (P = .0001) for wedge resections, respectively. Inpatient operating times were longer for RATS lobectomy than VATS lobectomy (4.49 hours vs 4.23 hours; P = .0959) and wedge resection (3.26 vs 2.86 hours; P = .0003). Length of stay was similar with no differences in adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: RATS lobectomy and wedge resection seem to have higher hospital costs and longer operating times, without any differences in adverse events.