Economics of urolithiasis: cost-effectiveness of therapies.
The cost of treating urolithiasis with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and endoscopic surgery continues to be a significant burden on a nation's healthcare economy. Cost-effectiveness evaluations of various medical and surgical treatment options for urolithiasis is a practical method of developing rational allocation strategies for limited economic resources. In this review, the cost-effectiveness of shockwave lithotripsy and that of endoscopic surgery in the management of kidney and ureteral stones are compared. This is followed by a discussion of the cost of the medical management of urolithiasis in comparison with repeated surgical treatment.
Chandhoke
P S
PS
Division of Urology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado 80262, USA. pj.chandhoke@uchsc.edu
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D018666:Ureteroscopy; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*