A PROSPECTIVE COMPARISON OF THE COSTS OF REUSABLE AND LIMITED-REUSE LAPAROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS

Citation
Jg. Descoteaux et al., A PROSPECTIVE COMPARISON OF THE COSTS OF REUSABLE AND LIMITED-REUSE LAPAROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS, CAN J SURG, 41(2), 1998, pp. 136
Citations number
7
Categorie Soggetti
Surgery
Journal title
Canadian journal of surgery
ISSN journal
0008428X → ACNP
Volume
41
Issue
2
Year of publication
1998
Database
ISI
SICI code
0008-428X(1998)41:2<136:APCOTC>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the cost and performance of 2 types of laparosco pic instrumentation: reusable laparoscopic book cautery instruments an d curved scissors, or limited-reuse laparoscopic hook cautery instrume nts and curved scissors.DESIGN: A randomized trial. SETTING: The opera ting room of a tertiary care hospital. METHOD: All general surgeons pe rforming laparoscopic procedures at the hospital were randomized to be supplied with either reusable or limited-reuse hook cautery and curve d scissors. Instrument use was recorded, together with principal outco me measures. OUTCOME MEASURES: Life expectancy of the instruments, the number of cases for which they were used, the number, nature and cost of repairs, their purchase cost and surgeon satisfaction. RESULTS: Re usable hook cautery instruments were less expensive than their limited -reuse counterparts. Excellent surgeon satisfaction a as reported with the use of this type of instrument. The limited-reuse curs ed scissor s arm of the study was terminated early because of a breach in study p rotocol. CONCLUSIONS: Reusable hook cautery instruments were better th an their limited-reuse counterparts. Rigorous attempts to compare the cost of laparoscopic instruments may be limited by their rapid evoluti on in design and the availability of many types of instruments on the market.