ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE AND COST OF SURGI CAL-TREATMENT FOR GASTRIC-CANCER - RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

In order to identify opportunities for cost containment in gastric can cer surgery, an analysis of pre-, peri-, and postoperative cost profil es was performed for 60 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative resections (76.6%), explorative laparotomies (18.3%), and palliative gastrojejunostomies (5%). While pre- and perioperative phases only off er limited opportunities for cost reduction, postoperative complicatio ns raised the mean length of hospital stay by 47%, the mean length of intensive care treatment by 865%, and the total treatment costs by 84- 248% compared to an uncomplicated clinical course. Pre-, peri-, and po stoperative cost-containment efforts must focus on the prevention of p ostoperative complications.