Direct hospital costs of total laparoscopic hysterectomy compared with fast-track open hysterectomy at a tertiary hospital: a retrospective case-controlled study

Aims To assess the direct intraoperative and postoperative costs in women undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy and fast‐track open hysterectomy. Methods A retrospective review of the direct hospital‐related costs in a matched cohort of women undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and fast‐track open hysterectomy (FTOH) at a tertiary hospital. All costs were calculated, including the cost of advanced high‐energy laparoscopic devices. The effect of the learning curve on cost in laparoscopic hysterectomy was also assessed, as was the hospital case‐weighted cost, which was compared with the actual cost. Results Fifty women were included in each arm of the study. TLH had a higher intraoperative cost, but a lower postoperative cost than FTOH (AUD$3877 vs AUD$2776 P