Cost-efficiency and outcomes in the treatment of perforated peptic ulcer disease: laparoscopic versus open approach.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic treatment of perforated peptic ulcer disease (perfPUD) has demonstrated comparable operative outcomes with an open approach though the cost-efficiency of this method has not been studied.

METHODS: Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2007-2010). Patients who underwent operation for perfPUD were divided on the basis of laparoscopic or open approach. The primary outcome measures were hospital duration of stay, mortality, and total charges.

RESULTS: A total of 5,361 patients with perfPUD were identified: 5,219 in the open group and 142 in the laparoscopic group. Patients in the laparoscopic group were younger (50.5 vs 60.0, P < .001) and had a lesser incidence at presentation of sepsis (8.5 vs 14.8%, P = .034) and shock (2.1 vs 7.7%, P = .012). On univariate analysis, the laparoscopic group had decreased duration of stay (7.0 vs 8.0 days, P < .001), lesser rates of mortality (3.5 vs 8.1%, P = .048), and were discharged to home more frequently (79.6 vs 68.1%, P = .025). Mean total charges were less in the laparoscopic group ($44,095 vs $52,055, P = .019). Multivariate analyses failed to show a difference between groups for any of the outcome variables.

CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic treatment of perfPUD is associated with equivalent costs and outcomes compared with the open technique when we corrected for presentation variables.