A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Bipolar TURP for the Treatment of Bladder Outflow Obstruction

Giacomo Maria Pirola; Martina Maggi; Daniele Castellani; Alessandro Sciarra; Emanuele Rubilotta; Marilena Gubbiotti

doi:10.2147/RRU.S277480

A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Bipolar TURP for the Treatment of Bladder Outflow Obstruction

Res Rep Urol. 2021 Jul 9:13:487-494. doi: 10.2147/RRU.S277480. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Giacomo Maria Pirola¹, Martina Maggi², Daniele Castellani³, Alessandro Sciarra², Emanuele Rubilotta⁴, Marilena Gubbiotti¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Urology, San Donato Hospital, Arezzo, Italy.
² Department of Urology, Sapienza Rome University, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
³ Department of Urology, Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Le Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
⁴ Department of Urology, A.O.U.I, Verona University, Verona, Italy.

Abstract

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the gold standard surgical technique for endoscopic treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Introduced in 2001, the bipolar energy appeared to be a valid alternative to the classical monopolar one with reduced risk of complication related to the use of saline irrigation and to the increased hemostatic efficacy. More recently, raising attention has been given to laser enucleation and vaporization techniques, which appear to achieve further advantages in terms of reduced hospital stay and complications compared to the resection ones. Few studies have investigated the cost/benefit ratio related to these techniques. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the cost/benefit ratio of bipolar TURP (B-TURP) compared with other endoscopic procedures.

Keywords: benign prostatic hyperplasia; bipolar TURP; bladder obstruction; transurethral resection of the prostate.

Publication types

Review