[Economic impact of complications after transurethral resection of the prostate on its cost throughout the process]

Considering that BPH is a highly common condition in the urological practice, that demographic changes further emphasise this feature and that the analysis of costs, funding and health care management are becoming increasingly under scrutiny, it is important to know the cost per procedure of the most commonly used therapeutical approaches and the impact of the complications on such cost.

1. To know the cost per procedure of prostate TUR as PBH treatment. 2. To know the percentage of complications involved and the way in which they impinge on cost.

Considering all data gathered from the annual surgical activity in our service with regard to this procedure and the percentage of complications after studying 105 cases over an evolution period of 6 to 50 months, the Planning and Management control Unit at the H.C.S. reported on the expenditure generated by this activity.

The cost per procedure in prostate TUR due to BPH in our environment is 191.030 pesetas at 1997 value. Morbidity affects 23% patients. Diagnosis and treatment of complications increases the overall cost by 7% thus reaching 205.096 pesetas.

The knowledge of the above results provides important data on the expenditure generated by the activity of our Service for funding and management purposes. It also allows us to perceive therapeutical results as a measure of quality control, and to redefine those actions that will allow us to improve our results.