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. 2023 Aug 8;408(1):299.
doi: 10.1007/s00423-023-03037-6.

Short-term outcomes and costs analysis of robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy-a retrospective single-center analysis

Antonia Gantschnigg  1 , Oliver Owen Koch  2 , Franz Singhartinger  2 , Peter Tschann  3 , Wolfgang Hitzl  4   5   6 , Klaus Emmanuel  2 , Jaroslav Presl  2
Affiliations

Short-term outcomes and costs analysis of robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy-a retrospective single-center analysis

Antonia Gantschnigg et al. Langenbecks Arch Surg. .

Abstract

Purpose: Robotic-assisted surgery is an alternative technique for patients undergoing minimal invasive cholecystectomy (CHE). The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes and costs of laparoscopic versus robotic CHE, previously described as the major disadvantage of the robotic system, in a single Austrian tertiary center.

Methods: A retrospective single-center analysis was carried out of all patients who underwent an elective minimally invasive cholecystectomy between January 2010 and August 2020 at our tertiary referral institution. Patients were divided into two groups: robotic-assisted CHE (RC) and laparoscopic CHE (LC) and compared according to demographic data, short-term postoperative outcomes and costs.

Results: In the study period, 2088 elective minimal invasive cholecystectomies were performed. Of these, 220 patients met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. One hundred ten (50%) patients underwent LC, and 110 patients RC. There was no significant difference in the mean operation time between both groups (RC: 60.2 min vs LC: 62.0 min; p = 0.58). Postoperative length of stay was the same in both groups (RC: 2.65 days vs LC: 2.65 days, p = 1). Overall hospital costs were slightly higher in the robotic group with a total of €2088 for RC versus €1726 for LC.

Conclusions: Robotic-assisted cholecystectomy is a safe and feasible alternative to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Since there are no significant clinical and cost differences between the two procedures, RC is a justified operation for training the whole operation team in handling the system as a first step procedure. Prospective randomized trials are necessary to confirm these conclusions.

Keywords: Costs; Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Operation time; Robotic-assisted cholecystectomy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of inclusion and exclusion criteria
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Port placement for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A: 10-mm camera trocar, B: 5-mm surgeons left-hand trocar, C: 10-mm surgeons right-hand trocar, D: 5-mm assistant trocar
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Port placement for robotic-assisted cholecystectomy. A: 8-mm camera trocar, B: 8-mm surgeons left-hand trocar, C: 8-mm surgeons right-hand trocar, D: 5-mm assistant trocar
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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