LAPAROSCOPIC STAPLING VISCEROSYNTHESIS - CONCEPTS AND COST-BENEFIT-ASPECTS

Viscerosyntheses represent an unrenouncable component of several endos copic procedures. The extra cost for a laparoscopic viscerosynthesis o f approximately 2000 DM in the year 1994 are economically well investe d with regard to a reduced postoperative pain, a reduced amount of pos toperative analgesics, a faster recovery, and most of all drastically reduced morbidity of the abdominal wall. The unfortunate structure of the healthcare system burdens the hospital with additional financial e xpenditures, thus shifting the profits to the insurance companies. ii change in this profit structure would allow for a faster spread of eff icient and promising therapies. Economical studies including patients, physicians, hospital administrations and insurance companies are cons idered to be imperative in order to promote the development of efficie nt therapies.