Hysteroscopic Endometrial Polypectomy: Clinical and Economic Data in Decision Making

Study objective: To compare the costs of hysteroscopic polypectomy using mechanical and electrosurgical systems in the hospital operating room and an office-based setting.

Design: Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: Tertiary referral hospital and center for gynecologic care.

Patients: Seven hundred and fifty-four women who underwent endometrial polypectomy between January 20, 2015, and April 27, 2016.

Interventions: Hysteroscopic endometrial polypectomy performed in the same-day hospital setting or office setting using one of the following: bipolar electrode, loop electrode, mechanical device, or hysteroscopic tissue removal system.

Measurements and main results: The various costs associated with the 2 clinical settings at Palagi Hospital, Florence, Italy were compiled, and a direct cost comparison was made using an activity-based cost-management system. The costs for using reusable loop electrode resection-16 or loop electrode resection-26 were significantly less expensive than using disposable loop electrode resection-27, the tissue removal system, or bipolar electrode resection (p = .0002). Total hospital costs for polypectomy with all systems were significantly less expensive in an office setting compared with same-day surgery in the hospital setting (p = .0001). Office-based hysteroscopic tissue removal was associated with shorter operative time compared with the other procedures (p = .0002) CONCLUSION: The total cost of hysteroscopic polypectomy is markedly higher when using disposable equipment compared with reusable equipment, both in the hospital operating room and the office setting. Same-day hospital or office-based surgery with reusable loop electrode resection is the most cost-effective approach in each settings, but requires experienced surgeons. Finally, the shorter surgical time should be taken into consideration for patients undergoing vaginal polypectomy in the office setting, owing more to patient comfort than to cost savings.