Robot surgery adds €2k to operation

LOWER risk of blood transfusion and shorter hospital stays are among the advantages of using a robot during certain kinds of surgery, but the cost may be difficult to justify, a report has found.

A health technology assessment of robot-assisted keyhole surgery during prostatectomies and hysterectomies found it added €2,487 and €3,019 respectively per procedure, based on volumes per robot of 200 prostatectomies or 300 hysterectomies per year.

However, the benefits to patients who get this surgery instead of open surgery include improved outcomes in urinary continence and sexual function after removal of the prostate gland, as well as shorter hospital stays and lower risk of transfusion.