The price is right: Routine fluorescent cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy
In December, published in Surgery, surgeons from University of California, San Diego, California provided evidence on cost effectiveness of fluorescent cholangiography versus standard bright light lap chole for non-cancerous gallbladder disease.
The model predicted that compared to standard bright light laparoscopic cholecystectomy
- Fluorescent cholangiography reduces lifetime costs by $1,235 per patient
- Fluorescent cholangiography improves effectiveness by 0.09 quality-adjusted life-years
- Reduced costs were due to a decreased operative duration (21.20 minutes, P < .0001) and rate of conversion to open (1.62% vs 6.70%, P < .0001) are associated with fluorescent cholangiography
Conclusion: “The current evidence favors routine use of fluorescent cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a cost-effective surgical strategy”. Their model predicts that “fluorescent cholangiography reduces costs while improving health outcomes, suggesting fluorescence imaging may be considered standard surgical management for noncancerous gallbladder disease”.