Robotic hysterectomy compared with laparoscopic hysterectomy: is it still more costly to perform?

Abstract

To establish the economic value of simple robotic hysterectomy vs laparoscopic hysterectomy and assess the impact of surgeon's experience. Retrospective cohort study. University-affiliated US regional healthcare system. Reproductive and post-menopausal women undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications. Robotic or laparoscopic hysterectomy. Between January 2018 and December 2019, a total of 985 simple laparoscopic and robotic hysterectomies were performed by 47 different gynecologists. Overall, the mean payment, direct cost, and profit were comparable (p value > 0.05) among simple robotic and laparoscopic hysterectomy. However, the mean operative time was significantly shorter for robotic hysterectomy compared to laparoscopic hysterectomy (106min vs 127min, respectively, p < 0.05). Operative time decreased as a surgeon's annual robotic case volume increased. Per-minute profitability of robotic hysterectomy increased significantly when a surgeon performed greater than 45 cases annually (p = 0.04). This effect became most pronounced when a surgeon performed 60 or more cases per year (p = 0.01). Simple robotic hysterectomy has shorter operative time compared to laparoscopic hysterectomy, with direct costs being similar. Robotic hysterectomy has higher per-minute profit compared to laparoscopic hysterectomy when a surgeon performs > 45 cases per year.