Today, let’s talk about the robotic hernia surgery cost. So, robotic surgery is a great option for treating hernias and many other conditions. It is becoming the most preferred procedure for treating complex abdominal hernias. But is this affordable to the common man?
Many patients ask us sir we want robotic surgery, but I am worried that it may be very expensive and unaffordable can I get a robotic surgery done? Before diving into the robotic hernia surgery cost, let us first understand why is this surgery more expensive than a regular laparoscopic operation.
Robotic Surgery Vs Laparoscopic Surgery
Both these surgeries are done through small holes both are minimally invasive operations, but why there is an extra cost involved when you do the same operation by a robot?
- The first thing is the equipment cost, the robot is a very expensive piece of equipment and the investment cost for the hospital is high.
- The second most important reason for added cost in a robot is because of the robotic instruments. These are limited-use instruments, meaning when you open a new instrument for a robotic operation, it will work only for 10 surgeries. After that, the software will shut down the instrument. Even though the instrument might be good after 10 uses, it simply stops working.
So, why is this done? This is to improve or enhance the safety of the operation. There is no way that an instrument gets used beyond its recommended time. This ensures there’s no compromise in the security of operation. Once an instrument is open, you can only do 10 operations and after that, the instrument has to be discarded.
The same is not true for a laparoscopic or an open operation where an instrument can be used much beyond its recommended lifetime also and this can sometimes be dangerous to the patient.
How much is the extra cost incurred when somebody opts for a robotic surgery instead of a laparoscopy? The usual cost is around Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 extra which is used for these disposable instruments is a charge the patients have to bear.
Robotic Hernia Surgery Cost: Is it Worth it?
Now, is it worth spending so much money on a robotic operation when one can get it done laparoscopically? Yes. Why is that? By doing a Robotic procedure, a surgeon can handle more and more complex hernias by robotic. These hernias may not be handled by a laparoscopic procedure because they are very complex.
In such cases, the surgeon might opt to go for an open operation. So, a patient who would otherwise end up getting an open operation with a long incision is being managed by a minimally invasive option because a robot is available. So spending that extra money can help
- Avoiding an open surgery
- Getting back to normalcy very soon,
- Getting back to productive life much faster, 10 times faster than open operations,
When you understand these advantages, you realize that the robotic hernia surgery cost is acceptable. Also these days more and more insurance companies are reimbursing the robotic cost. So, the awareness is spread and many patients get their insurance coverage for robotic procedures these days.
So, when you look at the overall advantage of robotic hernia surgery, the cost or the extra cost that you incur for a robotic procedure is very much justified
