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ShareMay 25, 2005 — While potential benefits of robotic technology include decreased morbidity and improved recovery, some have suggested a prohibitively high cost.
A recent study in Journal of Cardiac Surgery compared actual hospital costs of robotically assisted cardiac procedures with conventional techniques. The research looked at financial data of 20 patients who underwent two different cardiac procedures using robotic and conventional approaches. It was determined that although actual hospital cost to conduct the procedure was not higher, when considering the capital investment for the robot, costs were just $300.00 higher.
Dr. Jeffrey A. Morgan and his team at Columbia University in New York concluded that robotic technology did not significantly increase hospital cost. Adding these cost benefits to the improvement in patients' postoperative quality of life and quicker return to activity resulting from robotic surgery, the investment in this emerging technology could be justified.
This study is published in the Journal of Cardiac Surgery.
Jeffrey A. Morgan, MD is affiliated with Columbia University's Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York.
About the Journal of Cardiac Surgery
Journal of Cardiac Surgery (JCS) is a peer-reviewed journal devoted to contemporary surgical treatment of cardiac disease. Renown for its detailed "how to" methods, JCS's well-illustrated, concise technical articles, critical reviews and commentaries are highly valued by dedicated readers worldwide.
About Blackwell Publishing
Blackwell Publishing is the world's leading society publisher, partnering with more than 600 academic and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 750 journals and 600 text and reference books annually, across a wide range of academic, medical, and professional subjects.
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