Does robotic technology make minimally invasive cardiac surgery too expensive? A hospital cost analysis of robotic and conventional techniques.

Background: While potential benefits of robotic technology include decreased morbidity and improved recovery, some have suggested a prohibitively high cost. This study was undertaken to compare actual hospital costs of robotically assisted cardiac procedures with conventional techniques.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of clinical and financial data of 20 patients who underwent atrial septal defect (ASD) closure and 20 patients who underwent mitral valve repair (MVr) using either robotic techniques or a conventional approach with a sternotomy.

Heart transplant and left ventricular assist device costs.

Background: With the increasing clinical success of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), physicians need to measure device cost efficacy to determine the societal value of this technology. Today's large clinical volume allows comparison of the costs of this innovation as compared with orthotopic heart transplant (OHT).

Methods: We evaluated hospital cost and reimbursement for patients who were discharged after LVAD implantation and returned to the hospital for OHT.

Long-term survival and quality of life in cardiac surgical patients with prolonged intensive care unit length of stay.

Background: Patients with prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stays after cardiac operations are labor intensive and expensive. We sought to determine whether exhaustive ICU efforts result in survival or quality-of-life benefits and whether outcome could be predicted.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all adult cardiac surgical patients in 1998 for ICU stays more than 14 days.