[Performance and cost analysis of surgical therapy of stomach carcinoma--results and sequelae]

In order to identify opportunities for cost containment in gastric cancer surgery, and analysis of pre-, peri-, and postoperative cost profiles was performed for 60 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative resections (76.6%), explorative laparotomies (18.3%), and palliative gastrojejunostomies (5%). While pre- and perioperative phases only offer limited opportunities for cost reduction, postoperative complications raised the mean length of hospital stay by 47%, the mean length of intensive care treatment by 865%, and the total treatment costs by 84-248% compared to an uncomplicated clinical course. Pre-, peri-, and postoperative cost-containment efforts must focus on the prevention of postoperative complications.