Outcomes and Cost Comparisons After Introducing a Robotics Program for Endometrial Cancer Surgery

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of introducing a robotic program on cost and patient outcome. METHODS: This was a prospective evaluation of clinical outcome and cost after introducing a robotics program for the treatment of endometrial cancer and a retrospective comparison to the entire historical cohort. RESULTS: Consecutive patients with endometrial cancer who underwent robotic surgery (n = 143) were compared with all consecutive patients who underwent surgery (n = 160) before robotics. The rate of minimally invasive surgery increased from 17% performed by laparoscopy to 98% performed by robotics in 2 years. The patient characteristics were comparable in both eras, except for a higher body mass index in the robotics era (median 29.8 compared with 27.6; P<.005). Patients undergoing robotics had longer operating times (233 compared with 206 minutes), but fewer adverse events (13% compared with 42%; P<.001), lower estimated median blood loss (50 compared with 200 mL; P<.001), and shorter median hospital stay (1 compared with 5 days; P<.001). The overall hospital costs were significantly lower for robotics compared with the historical group (Can$7,644 compared with Can$10,368 [Canadian dollars]; P<.001) even when acquisition and maintenance cost were included (Can$8,370 compared with Can$10,368; P=.001). Within 2 years after surgery, the short-term recurrence rate appeared lower in the robotics group compared with the historic cohort (11 recurrences compared with 19 recurrences; P<.001). CONCLUSION: Introduction of robotics for endometrial cancer surgery increased the proportion of patients benefitting from minimally invasive surgery, improved short-term outcomes, and resulted in lower hospital costs. (Obstet Gynecol 2012;119:717-24) DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31824c0956