Each year thousands of American women undergo a hysterectomy. Doctors can perform the procedure without a major incision. Instead, they use laparoscopy and robotic assisted surgery, techniques which involve small incisions and the insertion of tiny instruments.
Dr. Jason Wright explained, "the instrumentation is put in through small incisions that are called ports. In a robotic hysterectomy, a surgical robot is attached to the instruments that go into these ports."
Researchers at Columbia University examined both of these operations over a three year period. They studied more than 260,000 women who had a hysterectomy for non-cancer-related disorders at more than 400 hospitals.
According to Dr. Dawn Hershman, "they both had significant advantages over open surgical procedures in terms of having less time in the hospital, less need for transfusions, less cost for both of them."
The study found no difference in complication rates or outcomes between women who had a laparoscopic compared to a robotic hysterectomy. But there was one big difference. On average, the cost of the robotic hysterectomy was more than $2200 greater than laparoscopic hysterectomy.
The study showed African-American patients and patients without private insurance were less likely to undergo a robotic assisted operation.
Dr. Jason Wright explained, "the instrumentation is put in through small incisions that are called ports. In a robotic hysterectomy, a surgical robot is attached to the instruments that go into these ports."
Researchers at Columbia University examined both of these operations over a three year period. They studied more than 260,000 women who had a hysterectomy for non-cancer-related disorders at more than 400 hospitals.
According to Dr. Dawn Hershman, "they both had significant advantages over open surgical procedures in terms of having less time in the hospital, less need for transfusions, less cost for both of them."
The study found no difference in complication rates or outcomes between women who had a laparoscopic compared to a robotic hysterectomy. But there was one big difference. On average, the cost of the robotic hysterectomy was more than $2200 greater than laparoscopic hysterectomy.
The study showed African-American patients and patients without private insurance were less likely to undergo a robotic assisted operation.
