[Economic aspects of laparoscopy in a cancer clinic]

The role of laparoscopy in reduction of the number of explorative laparotomies in cancer patients was studied. Laparoscopy was performed in 862 cases of whom 338 (39%) revealed definite signs of tumor dissemination which made potentially hazardous explorative laparotomy unjustified. The number of laparotomies was reduced by 78%. The laparotomized patients stayed in the hospital for the average of 15.86 +/- 0.76 days whereas those undergoing laparoscopy--3.56 +/- 0.14 days provided stage IV was diagnosed. Laparoscopy saved 12.30 days and 203 roubles for each case of stage IV cancer, and 3737 and 62,000 roubles for the entire group of 862 patients.