Cost Analysis of Laparoscopic Low Anterior Resection vs. Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery for Rectal Neoplasms

Despite the increasing application of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) for rectal lesions, the cost of the equipment may play a role in a hospital’s hesitancy to invest in the platform. This study compares the cost of TEM to laparoscopic low anterior resection (LAR). Patients who underwent laparoscopic LAR (n = 24) for rectal neoplasm between 2006 and 2014 were case-matched based on sex, age, comorbidities, lesion size and location to patients who underwent TEM at a busy secondary care urban hospital. Procedure-related costs and costs associated with readmissions for complications and related subsequent surgeries in the first 3 years were calculated. There were 42 hospital admissions for 24 LAR patients, totalling 326 hospital days. For 24 TEM patients, there were 25 hospital admissions, totalling 56 hospital days. Subsequent operations for LAR patients included 2 washout and diverting ileostomies (8%), 2 adhesionolysis (8%), 4 ventral hernia repairs (16%) and 11 ileostomy reversals (46%). In the TEM group, there was one operation for recurrence (4%). The mean cost of LAR, including all related hospital costs in the subsequent 3 years, was CAD 14,851 (95% CI: CAD 10,124–19,579). The mean cost of TEM was CAD 2449 (95% CI: CAD 2133–2767; p < 0.0001), with a savings of CAD 12,402 per patient. TEM for rectal neoplasm is associated with significantly lower hospital costs, which far outweigh the costs of acquiring and maintaining the technology.