Perioperative outcomes after adrenalectomy for malignant neoplasm in laparoscopic era: a multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to review perioperative outcomes of adrenalectomy for malignant neoplasm performed by open or laparoscopic technique and comparing them with benign diseases. METHODS: This study is a multicenter, retrospective analysis utilizing a large administrative database. The University Health System Consortium is an alliance of over 100 academic medical centers and 250 affiliate hospitals. The University Health System Consortium database was accessed using International Classification of Diseases codes. RESULTS: A total of 6157 patients underwent adrenalectomy between January 2008 and June 2011. Of these, 5101 patients underwent open adrenalectomy (OA) and 1056 underwent adrenalectomy by laparoscopic technique (LA). Comparison between LA and OA showed lower morbidity (4.8% vs. 7.2%, P=0.0007), hospital length of stay (d) (3.23±5.66 vs. 4.35±6.59, P<0.0001), ICU admission rate (18.19% vs. 23.75%, P<0.0001), and cost ($) (9250±14306 vs. 11634±16547, P<0.0001) for LA, with no statistical difference in observed mortality or 30-day readmission rate. We then compared open and laparoscopic procedures performed for benign and malignant diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, LA had better outcomes than OA. When comparisons were made between LA and OA for benign adrenal diseases, all outcomes were significantly better in the laparoscopic group. There were, however, no statistical differences when LA was compared with OA for malignant diagnoses.

How does the robot affect outcomes? A retrospective review of open, laparoscopic, and robotic Heller myotomy for achalasia.

BACKGROUND: Robotic techniques are routinely used in urological and gynecological procedures; however, their role in general surgical procedures is limited. A robotic technique has been successfully adopted for a minimally invasive Heller myotomy procedure for achalasia. This study aims to compare perioperative outcomes following open, laparoscopic, and robotic Heller myotomy. METHODS: This study is a multicenter, retrospective analysis utilizing a large administrative database. The University Health System Consortium (UHC) is an alliance between academic medical centers and affiliate hospitals. The UHC database was accessed using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes and analyzed. RESULTS: 2,683 patients with achalasia underwent Heller myotomy between October 2007 and June 2011. Myotomy was performed by open surgery (OM) in 418 patients, by laparoscopic approach (LM) in 2,116, and by robotic approach (RM) in 149. Comparison between LM and RM groups demonstrated no significant difference in mortality (0.14 vs. 0.0%; P = 1), morbidity (5.19 vs. 4.02%; P = 0.7), intensive care unit (ICU) admission (6.62 vs. 3.36%; P = 0.12), length of stay (LOS) (2.70 ± 3.87 days vs. 2.42 ± 2.69 days; P = 0.34), or 30-day readmission (1.41 vs. 2.84%; P = 0.27). However, hospital costs were significantly lower for the LM group (US $7,441 ± 7,897 vs. US $9,415 ± 5,515; P = 0.0028). Comparison between OM and RM demonstrated significant lower morbidity (9.08 vs. 4.02%; P = 0.02), ICU admission rate (14.01 vs. 3.36%, P = 0.0002), and LOS (4.42 ± 5.25 days vs. 2.42 ± 2.69 days; P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The perioperative outcomes are superior in LM and RM groups when compared with OM. The outcomes for the LM and RM group are comparable, with the robotic group having slightly improved results, although with increased costs. We conclude that robotic surgery is equivalent in safety and efficacy to laparoscopic Heller myotomy, and feel that the increased cost should come down as surgeons and manufacturers work together on cost reduction strategies.