Der Chirurg; Zeitschrift für alle Gebiete der operativen Medizen
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[The surgeon as a cost factor. Cost analysis exemplified by surgical treatment of rectal carcinoma].
Besides quality, costs play an increasingly important role. For rectal carcinoma, the cost of the surgical treatment of the disease (including after-care) was analysed under variable clinical conditions. ⋯ Costs as well as the patient's prognosis depend to a great extent on the quality of the procedure and consequently on the individual operating surgeon. A complicated course is associated with a considerable increase in costs. A complete cost analysis of rectal carcinoma has to include the cost of a potential locoregional recurrence which would lead to the additional prolonged after-care for these patients.