Comparison of flexible ureteroscopy and micropercutaneous nephrolithotomy in terms of cost-effectiveness: analysis of 111 procedures

• Published in: Urolithiasis 2016-08, Vol.44 (4), p.339-344
• Main Authors: Bagcioglu, Murat, Demir, Aslan, Sulhan, Hasan, Karadag, Mert Ali, Uslu, Mehmet, Tekdogan, Umit Yener
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Equipment Design; Female; Humans; Male; Medical Biochemistry; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nephrology; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous - economics; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous - methods; Original Paper; Retrospective Studies; Ureteroscopes; Urology
• ISSN: 2194-7228; 2194-7236
• DOI: 10.1007/s00240-015-0828-7

The objective of this study was to audit the costs of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) and micropercutaneous nephrolithotomy (microperc) and compare them in terms of cost-effectiveness. We performed a retrospective analysis of 63 patients who underwent microperc and 48 patients who underwent RIRS. The cases, performed between first use and first repair, were used for this initial study. The costs associated with performing RIRS and microperc, including the costs of devices, disposables, hospitalization, and additional required treatments, were audited. The main perioperative and postoperative parameters were collected, including operation time, JJ stent requirements, used disposables, stone-free rates, and complications. Statistical analyses of the means of continuous variables were performed using Student’s t test and the Mann–Whitney U test. Categorical variables were analyzed using Chi-squared tests. The mean cost of RIRS was $917.13 ± 73.62 and the mean cost of microperc was $831.58 ± 79.51; this difference was statistically significant ( p