Comparative Regional Analysis of Laparoscopic and Conventional Techniques in the Most Common Abdominal Procedures Performed in the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS)

• Grant number: 25/13305-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Daniel José Szor
• Grantee: Luana Saicali Namur
• Host Institution: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein (SBIBAE). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project proposes a regional comparative analysis between laparoscopic and conventional approaches in the main abdominal surgeries performed within Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS), such as cholecystectomy, herniorrhaphy, appendectomy, colectomy, and bariatric surgery. These procedures account for a significant portion of hospital admissions in the SUS and have considerable clinical, epidemiological, and economic impact.Although laparoscopy is widely recognized as a superior technique in several outcomes, its adoption in Brazil remains uneven, reflecting regional disparities in hospital infrastructure, professional training, and resource distribution. Human Development Index (HDI) data and physician density by state show that the North and Northeast regions have the lowest indices, with direct consequences on access to modern surgical technologies and patient outcomes.This retrospective and observational study will use data from DATASUS (2008-2024), cross-referencing clinical and epidemiological data with regional socioeconomic indicators. The analysis will be conducted using the R statistical language, employing descriptive and comparative methods, as well as regression models.The aim is to identify patterns of care and inequalities in the provision of laparoscopic surgery, providing evidence-based support for public policy. This proposal is part of an established research line developed by the authors, who have previously demonstrated improved outcomes for complex surgeries performed at high-volume centers.