Cost-comparison of robotic versus laparoscopic colorectal resections: a mapped systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies.

BACKGROUND: Robotic colorectal resections (RCR) have been gaining popularity recently due to several advantages in addition to oncological safety. The objective of this review is to evaluate the cost comparison of RCR versus laparoscopic colorectal resections (LCR).

METHODS: All types of comparative studies reporting the cost of RCR versus LCR were retrieved from the search of standard medical electronic databases and analysis was conducted by using the principles of meta-analysis on the statistical software RevMan version 5.

RESULTS: The search of medical databases yielded 13 studies (one randomised trial and 12 comparative studies) on 16,082 patients undergoing oncological and non-oncological colorectal resections. Eleven studies reported total cost whereas seven studies reported only operative cost. In the random effects model analysis, LCR was associated with the reduced total cost [standardised mean difference -62.34, 95% confidence interval (CI): -75.14 to -49.54, Z=9.55, P<0.001] as well as reduced operative cost (standardised mean difference -4.60, 95% CI: -5.90 to -3.31, Z=6.96, P<0.001) compared to RCR. However, there was significant heterogeneity [Tau2 =346.74, Chi2 =29,559.11, df =11 (P<0.001; I2 =100%); Tau2 =2.73, Chi2 =832.21, df =6 (P<0.001; I2 =99%)] among included studies.

CONCLUSIONS: The LCR seems to be more economical as compared to the RCR in terms of operative cost as well as total cost (operative plus in-patient stay). However, due to statistically significant heterogeneity among included studies and paucity of the randomised trials, these findings should be taken cautiously.