Cost Comparison between Laparoscopic and Open Appendectomies in Children
Journal Title: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal - Year 2013, Vol 13, Issue 2
Abstract
Objectives: Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) for children has become very popular and is routinely performed in most health care centres around the world. Te cost of surgical procedures is always a concern for patients and health care providers. Tis study compares, the total cost of open appendectomy (OA) with LA in children who required an appendectomy for acute appendicitis. Suitable and safe cost-effective techniques were also explored to reduce the cost of these procedures. Methods: Te medical records of all the children (ranging between 0 and 12 years) at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Oman, who required OA or LA from June 2009 to July 2011, were reviewed. Results: LA were performed in 75 patients while OA were done in 34. Patients from the OA and LA groups were age- and gender-matched. Te average operative time was 76 minutes for LA and 49 minutes for OA (P <0.001) while the average hospital stay was 3.14 days for LA and 2.15 days for OA (P = 0.08). Te average cost of the two procedures was Omani riyals (OMR) 534 for LA and OMR 343 for OA (P = 0.00). Te complication rate following procedures was lower in the case of LA, however this was not statistically signifcant (LA = 8% versus OA = 11.7 %, P = 0.32). Conclusion: LA are costlier procedures than OA, however they are as safe as OA, and do not increase morbidity or the duration of hospital stay.
Authors and Affiliations
Shahzad Y. Khan| Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, Zainab N. Al-Balushi| Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, Khalid M. Bhatti| Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, Toufque Ehsan| Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, Prakash Mandhan| Department of Surgery, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP14344
- DOI -
- Views 353
- Downloads 5
Breastfeeding Trends and Determinants Implications and recommendations for Gulf Cooperation Council countries
Optimal breastfeeding practices entail the early initiation of breastfeeding soon after delivery of the baby, exclusive breastfeeding for the frst six months of life and the continuation of breastfeeding complemented b...
Effect of single mismatches at 3′–end of primers on polymerase chain reaction
Objective and Method – To investigate the effect of three different mismatches (G/T, G/A or G/G) at the 3•– end of a primer to amplify a 268 bp (base pair) region of the human •–globin gene using different anne...
Radiation Exposure Levels in Family Members of Omani Patients with Thyrotoxicosis Treated with Radioiodine (131I) as Outpatients
Tis study was conducted to assess whether the radiation exposure levels of Omani family members of thyrotoxic patients, if treated with radioiodine therapy as outpatients, are within the international and local radiati...
Prevalence and Correlation of Human Papilloma Virus and its Types with Prognostic Markers in Patients with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast in Kuwait
Objectives: Tis study aimed to document the association of human papilloma virus (HPV) and its types in breast carcinoma tissues in Kuwaiti women, and correlate this with known prognostic markers. Methods: Te clinicopa...
Antiphosphatidyl Serine Autoantibodies and Premature Coronary Events
Objectives: To determine whether antiphosphatidyl serine autoantibodies (aPS) are associated with increased risk of occurrence of coronary events in selected patients. Methods: Tis study compared 50 patients with corona...