Technical and economic reasons to set robotic surgery in a public health system (Spanish model)

Abstract

Radical prostatectomy (RP) is today, in any of its four approaches (perineal (PRP), retropubic (ARP), laparoscopic (LRP) or robotic (RRP), the standard surgical treatment in localized prostate cancer. It looks clear that the minimum invasive approaches (laparoscopy and robotics) are able to reduce hospital stay as well as blood loss and therefore transfusion requirement. Also, laparoscopic results at mid and robotics at short term, seem to indicate, that both are safe oncologically and able to obtain same or even superior, functional results. Our objective has been to evaluate the economic impact that these techniques have to consider their definitive implantation, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of its potential implementation in our Health System.