Changes in route of hysterectomy in Norway since introduction of robotic approach

INTRODUCTION: From 2008, several Norwegian Health Trusts have acquired surgical robotic systems, and robotic hysterectomy accounted for 15 % of all hysterectomies performed in Norway in 2018. Robotic assisted hysterectomy is costly, and there is no evidence that the clinical outcome of robotic assisted hysterectomy is superior compared to the outcomes following other minimal invasive hysterectomies such as vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomies. The objectives of this study were to describe the implementation of robotic hysterectomy and changes in other hysterectomy approaches, such as open abdominal, laparoscopic and vaginal hysterectomy in hospitals with and without robotic systems for hysterectomy. METHODS: Quantitative study based on hysterectomy data between 2010 to 2018 from the Norwegian Patient Registry. RESULTS: 9 out of 19 health trusts performed robotic assisted hysterectomy during the study period. The rate of abdominal hysterectomies declined during the study period, both in the health trusts with and without available surgical robotic systems. The rate of other minimally invasive hysterectomies also declined in some health trusts after the implementation of robotic assisted hysterectomy. DISCUSSION: Robotic hysterectomy has been implemented and is increasing in Norway without a thorough evaluation of the effect on patient safety and possible economic consequences. According to our findings, it appears that the implementation of robotic hysterectomy has not had a significant impact on the use of open abdominal hysterectomy. Although associated with increased costs and a lack of evidence of improved clinical outcomes for women, robotic hysterectomy has furthermore to some extent replaced other minimal invasive hysterectomies.