How Expensive is ENT Surgeons' Involvement in Retrosigmoid Craniotomies? A Time-Driven Activity-Based Cost Analysis.

Objective: This study aims to examine the impact of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeons' involvement on intraoperative costs and operating room (OR) times for retrosigmoid craniotomies using time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC). Design: A retrospective, single-center analysis was conducted. TDABC methodology was utilized to calculate total intraoperative costs. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the independent effect of ENT surgeons' involvement on surgical costs and OR time. Setting: All procedures were performed at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and affiliated sites between 2017 and 2022. Participants: About 255 patients underwent retrosigmoid craniotomy (166 neurosurgery only, 89 with ENT surgeons' involvement). Main Outcome Measures: Main outcome measures include total intraoperative costs calculated using TDABC methodology, OR time, supply costs, and personnel costs. Results: Inclusion of ENT surgeons was significantly associated with increased total costs (B = $4,082 ± $1,015, Conclusion: While ENT collaboration can enhance outcomes in select cases, such as those involving vestibular schwannomas, its routine inclusion may not be cost-effective. Our study demonstrates the marginal cost of ENT collaboration for retrosigmoid craniotomies. Future studies may build on our costing framework by integrating outcomes with costs to determine the true cost-effectiveness of cross-specialty collaboration.