A comparative cost analysis of robotic-assisted surgery versus laparoscopic surgery and open surgery: the necessity of investing knowledgeably.

Background: Robotic surgery has been proposed as a minimally invasive surgical technique with advantages for both surgeons and patients, but is associated with high costs (installation, use and maintenance). The Health Technology Assessment Unit of the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital sought to investigate the economic sustainability of robotic surgery, having foreseen its impact on the hospital budget METHODS: Break-even and cost-minimization analyses were performed. A deterministic approach for sensitivity analysis was applied by varying the values of parameters between pre-defined ranges in different scenarios to see how the outcomes might differ.

[Exposure to hand-arm vibrations in orthopaedic plaster room: risk management].

Background: In hospitals, the use of vibrating tools, such as oscillating saws to cut plaster, can expose the staff to hand-arm vibrations.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the exposure of workers to vibrations in the plaster room and then  identify the most appropriate  intervention for  prevention and protection to be implemented in order to minimize  exposure and  protect  workers' health, considering different individual hyper-susceptibility conditions.

Methods: Four different models of plaster saws were examined for the evaluation.