[Cost of laparoscopic and open incisional hernia repair]

The economic impact of new technologies must be analyzed and known by surgeons. In laparoscopic incisional hernia repair, the cost of surgery is higher than open repair because of the longer duration of surgery and the cost or materials. The cost of the hospital stay is lower because the stay is shorter and the postoperative complication rate is lower. Overall hospital costs in laparoscopic repair are lower than or equivalent to the cost of open repair. Many variables come into play in these costs. The modification of any of these cost variables will influence overall costs of either procedure. To determine the economic consequences of choices made in surgery, all surgeons must evaluate the costs generated by their practice and compare the results to published data.