An economic evaluation of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for public hospitals in Trinidad and Tobago
Bailey, H.H.; Dan, D.V.
West Indian Medical Journal 54(2): 110-115
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-3144 PMID: 15999880 Document Number: 589485
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) is compared to the Open and Minilap approaches in a Cost Minimization Analysis for public hospitals in Trinidad and Tobago. The analysis shows that despite the high initial equipment cost required to perform LC, substantial savings can be achieved at the hospital level by converting from a minilap or open regime to a laparoscopic regime for cholecystectomy. Because of the reduced recovery period for the patient, LC represents further savings to other sectors of the economy as patients return to work much earlier after LC than after the other two approaches.