Penile prosthesis implantation surgery: a statewide population based analysis of 2354 patients.
OBJECTIVE
Minimally invasive therapy for erectile dysfunction (ED) has changed the frequency of penile prosthesis surgery. The purpose of this study is to describe the changes in frequency, hospital stay, hospital charges and penile prosthesis type in North Carolina.


METHODS
The data source was a statewide hospital discharge database which includes data on hospitalized patients for all 151 hospitals in North Carolina.


RESULTS
From 1988-1993, 2354 patients underwent implantation of penile prostheses. The total number of penile prostheses implanted has declined over this six year period. Similarly, hospital stay has declined from an average of 4.03-2.96 d with a 46.6% decrease in total hospital days. Despite this change in hospital stay, hospital charges rose significantly from an average of $7252.48 to $12,842.18 driving total charges from $2973,516.80 to $3,826,969.60 (1993) representing a 28.7% increase.


CONCLUSIONS
Minimally invasive therapy and changes in reimbursement have had a major impact on the number of patients undergoing penile prosthesis implantation for ED. This downward trend may continue as more treatment options develop from the marked increase in research in this field. However, this may result in an increase of patients seeking treatment overall.
Jhaveri
F M
FM
Division of Urology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599-7235, USA.
Rutledge
R
R
Carson
C C
CC
D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000601:surgery*; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019935:Penile Implantation / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D015917:Penile Prosthesis / Q000191:economics