Costs of radical cystectomy.
OBJECTIVE
The total costs of radical cystectomy comprise a significant part of the total costs of bladder cancer treatment. The aims of this study were to determine the costs of cystectomy, with and without complications, and to investigate related prognostic factors.


METHODS
The clinical records and relevant economic files of 70 consecutive patients operated on between 1994 and 1998 were studied. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed on 22 variables of possible prognostic significance to high total costs.


RESULTS
The total (median) costs for 53 uncomplicated and 17 complicated cystectomies were 181,096 and 290,625 SEK, respectively. The preoperative variables (patient characteristics) had no or minimal prognostic significance for high total costs. High peri-operative blood loss was the most important factor associated with high total hospital costs for radical cystectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Total costs may be very high for a cystectomy with complications. Peri-operative blood loss was the most important factor associated with high total hospital costs for radical cystectomy due to bladder cancer. If the amount of bleeding can be influenced then substantial reductions in the total costs of cystectomy would seem possible.
Berrum-Svennung
Ingela
I
Department of Urology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, S-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden.
Hedelin
Hans
H
Holmäng
Sten
S
D000368:Aged; D015653:Cystectomy / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000191:economics; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery; D014547:Urinary Diversion / Q000191:economics