Researchers analyzed data from 332 patients who underwent either laparoscopic hemihepatectomy (LH) or open hemihepatectomy (OH) at 16 centers in Europe. The goal was to understand how these two surgical approaches affected healthcare costs and patient quality of life over one year. Laparoscopic surgery involved higher costs during the operation itself, totaling 13,208 euros compared to 9,437 euros for open surgery. However, patients who had the laparoscopic procedure spent less on care after the operation, with postoperative costs of 5,774 euros versus 7,703 euros for open surgery.
When combining all expenses, the laparoscopic approach resulted in a higher mean overall cost per patient of 18,982 euros compared to 17,141 euros for open surgery. Despite this higher price tag, laparoscopic surgery provided a higher number of quality-adjusted life years, with a score of 0.834 versus 0.795 for open surgery. The study calculated that the additional cost was roughly 36,677 euros for each extra quality-adjusted life year gained. There was a 77% probability that laparoscopic surgery would be considered cost-effective under these conditions.
The study did not report specific safety concerns, adverse events, or discontinuations. Because this was a secondary analysis of existing trial data, the results reflect economic and quality-of-life differences rather than new clinical safety findings. Readers should understand that while laparoscopic surgery may be preferred where resources allow, the higher total cost is a significant factor. This evidence suggests that for selected patients, the procedure offers clinical benefits and acceptable economic value, but it is not universally cheaper or cheaper for everyone.
