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MONTREAL -- Frame-based stereotactic surgery, applied to the resection of brain mass lesions, is a cost-effective procedure, according to research presented here.
Treating patients stereotactically, compared to standard craniotomy for brain resection, represented overall savings at a Michigan hospital of nearly $3,000 ($4,000 Cdn) per case. The cost of a stereotactic procedure averaged $8,495 ($11,040 Cdn) compared to an average of $11,365 ($14,770 Cdn) for the standard operation.
The difference in cost was even more pronounced in cases where patients were under local anesthetic and were awake for their stereotactically assisted operations.
One of the study's authors said costs incurred due to patient illness drive up the overall costs in standard craniotomy treatment, as does longer operating time with the traditional...