Operating room costs of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: does surgeon volume matter?

Very few studies have addressed the issue of surgeon volume on cost savings of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in Asian countries. The objectives of the study were to analyze LC operating-room (OR) costs between two study hospitals and to examine the effect of surgeon volume on OR costs. Patients diagnosed with gallbladder disease who underwent LC in October through December 2002 at two acute tertiary-care hospitals were included. Patient demographics and clinical information were derived from patient charts. Cost information was obtained from purchasing departments or specific cost centers. Three multivariate linear regression models were performed to examine the association between surgeon volume, cost, and utilization. There were no significant differences in patient demographics and disease severity between the two hospitals. Hospital A consumed fewer resources than did hospital B (NTdollars 21,674 vs NTdollars 26,417). Direct materials cost, direct professional costs, and indirect costs varied significantly by study hospital and by surgeon volume. High-volume surgeons incurred lower costs and shorter stay as compared with low-volume surgeons. Patients who scored in the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA PS) 3 incurred significantly higher costs and longer hospital stays than did patients with ASA PS 1. The present study supports the proposal that hospital management and experience of surgeons are of equal importance in maintaining the standing of hospitals in competitive positions. In addition to the differences in hospital management and surgeon volume, the patient severity of illness also needs to be taken into consideration in cost containment.