ASO Author Reflections: Cost Effectiveness of Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Excerpt

Concepts in surgical oncology have evolved over time. The perception that treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal carcinoma is of palliative intent has changed dramatically with the advent of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). This treatment method requires a multidisciplinary approach, which generally translates to higher costs. Cost effectiveness is a topic of extreme interest in recent years, especially with the ever-rising health care costs and budgets. The value of various medical treatment procedures is extensively scrutinized by patients, governmental health care agencies, and insurance companies. Although cost effectiveness itself is not the main determinant of the relevance and feasibility of any treatment method, it is one way to determine the value and benefits of an intervention, allowing a more informed decision concerning the most optimal treatment choice. Because increasing evidence shows the effectiveness of cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC, the cost effectiveness of this method is questioned, especially compared with that of palliative surgery or chemotherapy. The current study aimed to investigate the cost effectiveness of cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC compared with that of the traditional palliative chemotherapy in the context of Singapore.1 …