Direct and indirect costs and long-term survival of laparoscopic anterior resection for rectal cancer.

Background: Few studies evaluate the cost-effectiveness issues of laparoscopic anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer. This study evaluates direct and indirect costs of LAR and its long-term survival rate in rectal cancer patients.

Material/methods: This prospective nonrandomized controlled trial included 2 endpoints (direct and indirect costs, and disease-free survival). From January 2003 to May 2005, rectal cancer patients admitted to our center were assigned to 2 groups: 87 patients underwent LAR (LAP), while 86 cases received open anterior resection (OPEN). The direct costs were prospectively evaluated. Main indirect cost is productivity loss. The data of direct costs, indirect costs, and the total costs were collected for the minimal cost analysis.

Results: Disease-free survival at 65 months in the LAP group and the OPEN group was 78.2% and 74.7%; there was no significant difference between the groups. Median direct costs were not significantly different between the LAP and the OPEN groups. Indirect costs of the LAP group were significantly lower than those of the OPEN group, while total costs were not significantly different. Cost percentage for operations, medications, and hospitalization were 75.90%, 11.28%, and 2.18% in the LAP group; while in the operation group, they were 54.50%, 29.09%, and 3.35%.

Conclusions: Total economic budget for a patient receiving LAR was not significantly increased compared with the conservative method owing to its technical predominance, oncologic safety, as well as frequent bed turnover.