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Laparoscopic myomectomy. Time and cost analysis of power vs. manual morcellation
1Women's Health Center of South Orange County, Inc., Mission Viejo, California 92691, USA.
Objective:
To compare electromechanical to manual morcellation in the performance of laparoscopic myomectomies.
Study Design:
Laparoscopic myomectomy was performed with manual or electromechanical morcellation in a case-control study. Weight of myoma, patient weight and age were matched. Length of time for morcellation, blood loss, complications and length of hospital stay were measured.
Results:
Twenty-eight cases of laparoscopic myomectomy, 14 with a manual and 14 with an electromechanical morcellator, were performed. Use of the electromechanical morcellator reduced the average time for extraction of myomas < 100 g by 15 minutes and 401-500 g by 150 minutes on average. The average time savings for all myomectomies was 53 minutes. With operating room charges of $10 per minute, the $14,000 cost of the morcellator was recovered by the 21st case.
Conclusion:
Electromechanical morcellation results in significant time savings as compared to the manual technique. Financial savings accrue rapidly after the 21st case.