A Comparison of Stapling Costs Used in Hybrid vs Robotic Surgery

OBJECTIVES: Hybrid stapling, the use of laparoscopic stapling tools at the bedside during robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) procedures, is being adopted by surgeons as it’s perceived to offer the precision of robotics and allows choice among stapling products. This research will compare the economic impact of hybrid stapling vs robotic stapling costs in sleeve gastrectomy, lung lobectomy, and colectomy.

METHODS: A calculation framework was developed to analyze direct stapling costs utilized in robotic-assisted surgeries accurately across manufacturers on a per procedure and annual time horizon. Inputs include a range of stapling reloads and handles, factoring in the number of uses and units of measure to account for reusable and disposable products. The number of reloads and handles were estimated from literature and industry collected data, and hospital cost per product was based on 2022-2023 average sales price (ASP) data from the IQVIA database. Annual estimations were based on 100 procedures.

RESULTS: The average stapling cost in hybrid procedures was $1,480 ($959 – $2,219) compared to robotic procedures $2,064 ($1,334 - $2,659), estimating hybrid stapling could save $429 per procedure compared to robotic stapling. The stapling supplies estimated for sleeve gastrectomy and lobectomy procedures showed the largest difference between the two approaches, $473 and $440 respectively. Over an annual period, hybrid stapling was found to save $42,910 compared to robotic stapling.

CONCLUSIONS: Lower stapling supply costs of hybrid RAS procedures adds to the growing body of clinical and economic evidence. As physicians and hospitals look for choice among stapling products in RAS procedures, the cost of hybrid stapling will play an important factor, along with the difference in clinical outcomes among products.