Karen M. Brady

Case-Matched Comparison of Clinical and Financial Outcome after Laparoscopic or Open Colorectal Surgery

Objective Comparison of outcome and costs after laparoscopic and open colectomy. Summary Background Data Previous studies comparing laparoscopic and open colectomy report conflicting results with regard to clinical outcome and costs. Methods Laparoscopic colectomy patients from a prospective database were matched for age, gender, and disease-related grouping to patients who underwent the same operation by the open approach over the same period (2000 to 2001). Data for the latter group was gathered by retrospective analysis and the 2 groups were compared for outcome and direct costs. Results Laparoscopic colectomy patients (n = 150) were compared with the same number of open colectomy patients. American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (P = 0.09), body mass index (P = 0.17), diagnosis (P = 0.12), complications (P = 0.14), and rate of readmission within 30 days (P = 0.44) were similar for both groups. Operating room costs were significantly higher after laparoscopic colectomy (P < 0.0001), but length of hospital stay was significantly lower (P < 0.0001). This resulted in significantly lower total costs (P = 0.0007) owing to lower pharmacy (P < 0.0001), laboratory (P <0.0001), and ward nursing costs (P = 0.0004). Conclusions Laparoscopic colectomy results in significantly lower direct costs compared with open colectomy for carefully matched patients.

Cost structure of laparoscopic and open sigmoid colectomy for diverticular disease: Similarities and differences

AbstractPURPOSE: Although laparoscopic colectomy has demonstrated a variety of advantages, it remains unclear whether the reductions in length of stay and faster return of bowel function will offset potential increases in cost caused by operating time and instrumentation. The purpose of this study was to compare the direct cost structure of elective open and laparoscopic resection for sigmoid diverticulitis. METHODS: We compared consecutive elective open and laparoscopic sigmoid colectomies (n = 71 and n = 61, respectively) performed from March 1, 1999, through December 31, 2000. Data collected included age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesia score, indication for surgery, morbidity, mortality, conversion (laparoscopic only), operating time, and length of hospital stay. Direct cost data were provided by Stanford’s integrated hospital cost management and decision software. Indirect costs and total costs were not addressed. Data were analyzed by Student’s t-test and chi-squared test where appropriate. Significance was set at P < 0.05. All data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean. RESULTS: There were 132 elective sigmoid colectomies for diverticular disease (61 laparoscopic and 71 open procedures). There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to age, male/female ratio, or body mass index. Operating time was similar (109 ± 7 minutes for laparoscopic procedures vs. 101 ± 7 minutes for open procedures). The laparoscopic group had a significantly shorter length of stay (3.1 ± 0.2 vs. 6.8 ± 0.4 days), fewer pulmonary complications (1 (1.6 percent) vs. 4 (5.6 percent)) and fewer wound infections (0 vs. 5 (7 percent)). Conversion to open colectomy was required in 4 (6.6 percent) of 61 patients. Readmission occurred in three laparoscopic colectomy patients (4.9 percent) and four open colectomy patients (5.6 percent). There was one operative death in the laparoscopic group (1.6 percent) and no deaths in the open group. Total direct cost per case was significantly less for laparoscopic procedures (

Advantages of Laparoscopic Resection for Ileocecal Crohn’s Disease

3,458 ± 437) than for open colectomies (

Results of a standardized technique and postoperative care plan for laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy: a 30-month experience.

4321 ± 501; P < 0.05, Student’s t-test), and operating costs were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSION: The data demonstrate that laparoscopic colectomy is a cost-effective means of electively managing sigmoid diverticular disease. This operative approach may become very important in an era of increasing constraints on hospital occupancy rates and access to nursing services in many regions of the country.

Laparoscopic Colectomy in Obese and Nonobese Patients

AbstractPURPOSE: Elective laparoscopic-assisted resection of terminal ileal Crohn’s disease is slowly gaining acceptance as an alternative to conventional surgery, based on the advantages of earlier return of bowel function, reductions in length of stay, and smaller wounds in a population likely to require reoperation. There is limited documentation of the cost-effectiveness of this approach, particularly with the reported longer operating times. The purpose of this study was to compare laparoscopic and open resections for terminal ileal Crohn’s disease. METHODS: We compared contemporaneous cohorts of patients undergoing initial elective laparoscopic or open resection for ileocecal Crohn’s disease between June 1, 1999 and October 31, 2000 at a single institution. Operative approach was at the discretion of the surgeon. Data collected included age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, indication for surgery, morbidity, mortality, conversion (laparoscopic-resection group only), operating-room time, length of hospital stay, direct cost per case, 30-day readmission, and return to work. All data are presented as medians and interquartile ranges. Data analysis was performed with the Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher’s exact test, and Student’s t-test where appropriate. Significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: There were 45 evaluable patients (laparoscopic-resection group, 21; open-resection group, 24). One procedure was considered a conversion because of the 13-cm incision required to exteriorize the phlegmon (conversion rate, 4.8 percent). The median age (laparoscopic-resection group, 31 years; open-resection group, 39 years) and gender distributions (male/female: laparoscopic-resection group, 12/9; open-resection group, 9/15) were significantly different between the two groups. Resumption of oral intake (operating-room day vs. second postoperative day; P < 0.05) and resumption of intestinal function (2 vs. 4 days; P < 0.05) were significantly faster in the laparoscopic-resection patients. The median length of hospital stay was significantly shorter for the laparoscopic-resection patients (3 (2–3) vs. 5 (4–6) days; P < 0.05). The 30-day readmission rate in the laparoscopic-resection group was 9.6 percent (2/21), whereas none of the open-resection patients required rehospitalization. The overall complication rates were comparable for the laparoscopic-resection and open-resection patients (14.3 vs. 16.7 percent; P not significant), although there was one anastomotic leak and one intra-abdominal abscess in the laparoscopic-resection group, requiring readmission and reintervention (9.6 percent; P not significant). The direct cost per case was significantly lower for the laparoscopic-resection group (

Does Conversion of a Laparoscopic Colectomy Adversely Affect Patient Outcome

2,547 vs.

Is laparoscopic colectomy applicable to patients with body mass index >30? A case-matched comparative study with open colectomy.

2,985; P < 0.05, Student’s t-test). CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic-assisted approach to ileocecal Crohn’s disease results in a shortened length of stay and seems economically advantageous to open surgery.

Laparoscopic total colectomy for acute colitis

AbstractINTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy has been accepted slowly despite potential advantages because of the perceptions of a steep learning curve and increased operative times and costs. The purpose of this article is to review the outcome of a standardization of all the intraoperative and postoperative processes used in our department for the performance of laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy. METHODS: A consecutive series of patients requiring laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy from March 1999 through December 2001 at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, was analyzed. Patients requiring sigmoid or rectosigmoid resection for all colonic pathologies were included. Criteria for exclusion from an attempted laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy were body mass index >35 and prior major abdominal surgeries (exclusive of hysterectomy, cholecystectomy, or appendectomy). Data collected included age, gender, indication for surgery, American Society of Anesthesiology class, body mass index, operative duration, length of hospital stay, complications, mortality, and 30-day readmission. The operative steps for laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy were as follows: 1) open insertion of the umbilical port; 2) placement of three operating ports; 3) dissection/division of the vascular pedicle after identification of the left ureter; 4) mobilization of the sigmoid and descending colon; 5) rectal mobilization/division; 6) exteriorization of the specimen; and 7) circular stapled anastomosis. Instrumentation for the procedure was standardized. Conversion was performed when a sequential step could not be completed in a reasonable time frame. A standard perioperative care plan was used. RESULTS: From March 1999 through December 2001, the primary surgeon performed 207 sigmoid colectomies, including 181 (87.4 percent) attempted laparoscopic sigmoid colectomies and 22 (12.1 percent) conversions. Indications for the laparoscopic sigmoid colectomies were diverticular disease (115), colonic neoplasia (32), prolapse (14), endometriosis (10), and other (10). The male/female ratio was 85:96, and the mean body mass index was 27.3 ± 5.6. Mean operative time was 119 ± 35 minutes. Mean length of stay was 2.9 ± 1.2 days for completed cases and 6.4 ± 1.4 days for converted cases. Anastomotic leaks occurred in two patients (1.1 percent), one of whom died of multisystem organ failure, yielding an operative mortality of 0.6 percent. The overall complication rate was 6.6 percent, and the 30-day readmission rate was 8 percent. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that a structured approach to laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy provides the surgeon with objective measures of operative progress that limit unduly long operations without increasing conversion rates and that control resource utilization. This approach provides a potential guideline for teaching and mastering laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy, reducing the learning curve, and optimizing results.

Long-term outcome after laparoscopic and open surgery for rectal prolapse: A case-control study

Obese patients carry a higher risk of wound complications and cardiopulmonary complications along with a higher incidence of comorbidity, all of which have the potential to affect outcome after a variety of surgical procedures. The data regarding outcomes after laparoscopic colectomy in obese and nonobese patients are limited. The purpose of this report was to compare the outcome of laparoscopic bowel resection in obese and nonobese patients. All patients prospectively entered into a laparoscopic bowel resection database from March 1999 to December 2001, who underwent a segmental colectomy for any pathologic condition, were analyzed. Patients with a body mass index above 30 were defined as obese, and patients with a body mass index below 30 were defined as nonobese. Data collected included age, sex, duration of operation, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, operative procedure diagnosis, complications relating to length of hospital stay, mortality, and readmission within 30 days of discharge. Statistical analysis consisted of Student’s t test and chi-square analysis where appropriate, with significance set at P < 0.05. A total of 260 patients were evaluated (201 [77.3%] in the nonobese group and 59 [22.7%] in the obese group). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to age, sex, operative procedure, length of hospital stay, or readmission rates. The obese group had significantly more conversions to an open procedure (23.7% vs. 10.9%), a longer operative duration (109 minutes vs. 94 minutes), a higher morbidity rate (22% vs. 13%) and a higher anastomotic leakage rate (5.1% vs. 1.2%). This large experience with laparoscopic colectomy for a variety of conditions demonstrates that despite higher conversion rates, an increased risk of pulmonary complications, and anastomotic leakage rates in obese laparoscopic patients that parallel those of open surgery, laparoscopic colectomy can be performed safely in both obese and nonobese patients with the similar benefit of a shorter hospital stay in both groups.

Diagnosis-Related Group Assignment in Laparoscopic and Open Colectomy: Financial Implications for Payer and Provider

PURPOSEConversion during laparoscopic colectomy varies in frequency according to the surgeon’s experience and case selection. However, there remains concern that conversion is associated with increased morbidity and higher hospital costs.METHODSFrom January 1999 to August 2002, 430 laparoscopic colectomies were performed by two surgeons, with 51 (12 percent) cases converted to open surgery. Converted cases were matched for operation and age to 51 open cases performed mostly by other colorectal surgeons from our department. Data collected included gender, American Society of Anesthesiology score, operative indication, resection type, operative stage at conversion, in-hospital complications, direct hospital costs, unexpected readmission within 30 days, and mortality.RESULTSThere were no significant differences between the groups for age (converted, 55 ± 19; open, 62 ± 16), male:female ratio (converted, 17:34; open, 23:28), or American Society of Anesthesiology score distribution. Indications for surgery were neoplasia (converted, 16; open, 31); diverticular disease (converted, 21; open, 13); Crohn’s disease (converted, 12; open, 5); and other disease (converted, 2; open, 2). Operative times were similar (converted, 150 ± 56 minutes; open, 132 ± 48 minutes). Conversions occurred before defining the major vascular pedicle/ureter (50 percent), in relation to intracorporeal vascular ligation (15 percent), or during bowel transection or presacral dissection (35 percent). Specific indications for conversion were technical (41 percent), followed by adhesions (33 percent), phlegmon or abscess (23 percent), bleeding (6 percent), and failure to identify the ureter (6 percent). Median hospital stay was five days for both groups. In-hospital complications (converted 11.6 percent; open 8 percent), 30-day readmission rate (converted 13 percent vs. open 8 percent), and direct costs were similar between groups. There were no mortalities.CONCLUSIONConversion of a laparoscopic colectomy does not result in inappropriately prolonged operative times, increased morbidity or length of stay, increased direct costs, or unexpected readmissions compared with similarly complex laparotomies. A policy of commencing most cases suitable for a laparoscopic approach laparoscopically offers patients the benefits of a laparoscopic colectomy without adversely affecting perioperative risks.