Patient related factors affecting in-hospital costs of a TURP procedure

Introduction: Treatment costs of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) are a substantial economic burden that will continue to increase in the future as a result of the ageing male population and increasing health awareness. The true costs for surgical interventions against BPE have been difficult to quantify as treatment costs strongly depend on the performance setting and may also vary among different healthcare systems, regions and institutions. The purpose of this study was to disclose the in-hospital costs and main expense items associated with a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Methods: A cohort of men subjected to TURP due to BPE was analysed during a 3-year period (2017-2019). All in-hospital expenses were registered using an electronic spreadsheet. Patient background and perioperative variables were registered using retrospective chart reviews. Results: A total of 122 men were available for final analysis. Of these, 70 men were operated on due to bothersome LUTS and 52 men due to urinary retention. The mean and median (inter quartile range) cost per patient was €4025 and €3702 (2961 − 4390), respectively. The main drivers of total cost were length of stay, the surgical procedure and anaesthesia related costs. Factors associated with increasing total cost per patient were increasing age, prostate volume, presence of urinary retention, occurrence of complications, increasing catheter time and length of stay. Conclusion: The main factor that influences total cost for an elective TURP procedure is the occurrence of postoperative complications. Our findings firmly underscore the indispensability to employ every possible means to avoid and prevent complications of any kind.