ATLANTA, GA USA (UroToday) - In this retrospective analysis all patients undergoing RARP (n=115) or RRP (n=358) by one of four surgeons at a single institution over a 12 month period were reviewed.
The cost assessment analysis and comparisons included parameters for hospital length of stay (LOS), operative time, hospital charges, reimbursement, and direct and indirect hospital costs. Ratio of costs-to-charges (RCC) rates was applied to each charge amount to calculate costs. The charge of origin was used in the analysis.
It is interesting to note that in this comparison they found that length of stay (LOS) was comparable for both the RARP and RRP patients. The most significant difference in overall costs was found to be the operating room costs which were 56% lower in the open prostatectomy compared to the robot-assisted prostatectomy. This contributed to the mean total costs of the RARP exceeding the total costs of RRP by 74% ($11,154 versus $8269; p=<0.05). The majority of these cost differences were attributable to the surgical supply and operating room costs. Nursing costs were higher in the RRP than for the RARP ($2307 versus $876; p=<0.05). The robotic technique drove the total costs of the RRP.
The authors concluded that for this single institution, the total actual costs associated with the RARP were significantly more than for the RRP, due to the higher operating costs. This is a single institution's assessment, and more analysis of institutional costs would be required to assume this is consistent across all institutions.
Presented by Jeffrey Tomaszewski, Benjamin Davies, Stephen Jackman, Ronald Hrebinko, and Joel Nelson at the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting - May 19 - 23, 2012 - Georgia World Congress Center - Atlanta, GA USA
