Obesity is a multifactorial disease affecting a significant portion of the population. Bariatric surgery emerges as a prominent approach in this context, representing an effective treatment both in the short and long term. The costs associated with bariatric surgery vary depending on the characteristics of the patients, current hospital practices, and available funding sources.
To analyze the costs of minimally invasive bariatric surgery for the treatment of obesity in a tertiary federal public hospital.
An observational and descriptive study aimed at assessing the costs associated with laparoscopic vertical gastrectomy (GV) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in a federal public tertiary service from 2018 to 2021. Data were obtained through the management of medical-hospital expenses related to surgical and anesthetic supplies, as well as the amount reimbursed by the funding source to the hospital.
Over the analyzed period, a total of 177 minimally invasive bariatric surgeries were performed. In terms of the charges, since 2018, the hospital has been receiving an amount of R$ 6,145.00 for the “bariatric surgery by videolaparoscopy” procedure, which includes RYGB, and R$ 4,095.00 for “vertical gastrectomy.” Regarding the average hospital cost of surgical supplies, RYGB incurred a total of R$ 9,907.54, while GV incurred a total of R$ 9,315.84. The average total cost of RYGB was R$ 10,799.23, and, for GV, it was R$ 10,207.53. These figures indicate that the hospital incurred a loss of approximately R$ 4,654.23 for performing RYGB and R$ 6,112.53 for GV.
Despite the increasing number of eligible patients for surgical treatment of obesity and the consequent quantitative growth of these procedures funded by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), the costs exceed the reimbursement from the funding source in federal public hospitals. There is a need for a precise assessment of financing in the fight against obesity.
Hospital costs in surgery constitute a burden for the health system in all over the world. Multimodal protocols such as the ACERTO project enhance postoperative recovery.
The aim of this study was to analyze the hospital costs in patients undergoing major digestive surgical procedures with or without the perioperative care strategies proposed by the ACERTO project.
Retrospective data from elective patients undergoing major digestive surgical procedures in a university hospital between January 2002 and December 2011 were collected. The investigation involved two phases: between January 2002 and December 2005, covering cases admitted before the implementation of the ACERTO protocol (pre-ACERTO period), and cases operated between January 2006 and December 2011, after implementation (ACERTO period). The primary outcome was the comparison of hospital costs between the two periods. As secondary end point, we compared length of stay (LOS), postoperative complications, surgical-site infection (SSI) rate, and mortality.
We analyzed 381 patients (239 of the pre-ACERTO period and 142 of the ACERTO period) who underwent major procedures on the gastrointestinal tract. Patients operated after within the ACERTO protocol postoperative LOS had a median of 3 days shorter (p=0.001) when compared with pre-ACERTO period [median (IQR): 10 (12) days vs. 13 (12) days]. Mortality was similar between the two periods. Postoperative complications risk, however, was 29% greater (RR: 1.29; 95%CI 1.11-1.50) in the pre-ACERTO period (p=0.002). SSI risk was also greater in pre-ACERTO period (RR: 1.33; 95%CI 1.14-1.50). Costs (mean and SE) per patients were R$24,562.84 (1,349.33) before the implementation and R$19,912.81 (1,459.89) after the ACERTO protocol (p=0.02).
The implementation of the ACERTO project in this University Hospital reduced the hospital costs in major digestive procedures. Moreover, the implementation of this modern perioperative care strategy also reduced postoperative complications, SSI risks, and LOS.
Desenvolvido por Surya MKT