Evaluating the economic efficiency of open, laparoscopic, and robotic distal pancreatectomy: an updated systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: This study compared the cost-effectiveness of open (ODP), laparoscopic (LDP), and robotic (RDP) distal pancreatectomy (DP). Methods: Studies reporting the costs of DP were included in a literature search until August 2023. Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted, and surface under cumulative ranking area (SUCRA) values, mean difference (MD), odds ratio (OR), and 95% credible intervals (CrIs) were calculated for outcomes of interest. Cluster analysis was performed to examine the similarity and classification of DP approaches into homogeneous clusters. A decision model-based cost–utility analysis was conducted for the cost-effectiveness analysis of DP strategies. Results: Twenty-six studies with 29,164 patients were included in the analysis. Among the three groups, LDP had the lowest overall costs, while ODP had the highest overall costs (LDP vs. ODP: MD − 3521.36, 95% CrI − 6172.91 to − 1228.59). RDP had the highest procedural costs (ODP vs. RDP: MD − 4311.15, 95% CrI − 6005.40 to − 2599.16; LDP vs. RDP: MD − 3772.25, 95% CrI − 4989.50 to − 2535.16), but incurred the lowest hospitalization costs. Both LDP (MD − 3663.82, 95% CrI − 6906.52 to − 747.69) and RDP (MD − 6678.42, 95% CrI − 11,434.30 to − 2972.89) had significantly reduced hospitalization costs compared to ODP. LDP and RDP demonstrated a superior profile regarding costs–morbidity, costs–mortality, costs–efficacy, and costs–utility compared to ODP. Compared to ODP, LDP and RDP cost $3110 and $817 less per patient, resulting in 0.03 and 0.05 additional quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), respectively, with positive incremental net monetary benefit (NMB). RDP costs $2293 more than LDP with a negative incremental NMB but generates 0.02 additional QALYs with improved postoperative morbidity and spleen preservation. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis suggests that LDP and RDP are more cost-effective options compared to ODP at various willingness-to-pay thresholds. Conclusion: LDP and RDP are more cost-effective than ODP, with LDP exhibiting better cost savings and RDP demonstrating superior surgical outcomes and improved QALYs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]