THE COSTS OF PROSTATECTOMY FOR BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Using claims data for a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries, we estimated the costs of surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperp lasia (BPH), including those related to the initial prostatectomy, the treatment of postsurgical complications, and reoperation within one y ear. We identified 14,480 men who underwent prostatectomy for BPH duri ng 1986-1987, including 13,730 transurethral and 750 open procedures. Mean total inpatient costs (including all hospital charges and profess ional service fees) for these procedures were estimated to be $6,501 a nd $10,223, respectively. Among patients who underwent trans-urethral and open prostatectomy, we identified 938 (6.8%) and 39 (5.2%) individ uals who had at least one readmission for postsurgical complications o r reoperation. Total expected costs of transurethral and open prostate ctomy, inclusive of readmissions for complications and reoperations wi thin one year, were estimated to be $6,823 and $10,477, respectively. Our study indicates the economic burden represented by surgical treatm ent of BPH. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.