Is it worth offering a routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy in developing countries? A Thailand case study

Table 2 Costs (per patient) related to open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in 2004 Thai Baht, and used as inputs in the model

	Open cholecystectomy		Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Variables	Mean	Standard error	Mean	Standard error
Direct costs
Cholecystectomy (pre-, intra-, and post-operation)	9,355	717	20,790	507
Conversion from Laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy			25,782	1,518
Intraoperative cholangiography (IOC)	1,502	154	1,502	154
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)			2,011	120
Open choledocholithectomy	15,201	1,590	15,201	1,590
Endoscopic sphincterotomy			9,923	639
Treatment bile duct injury	12,068	2,926	12,068	2,926
Self-prescriptions and visiting private clinics (after discharge from hospital)	566	204	567	249
Indirect costs
Foods, accommodations, and lost working and spare times, on the part of relatives during admission	7,519	383	3,810	759
Lost working and spare times, on the part of relatives after discharging from hospital	2,945	1,409	2,693	650
Lost working and spare times, on the part of patients (on a whole course)	4,008	1,004	2,069	488
Transfer costs (i.e. sick compensations)	69	55	17	12