Uterine artery embolization for leiomyomata: resource use and cost estimation

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to provide an assessment of the facility cost associated with uterine artery embolization (UAE) for leiomyomata and to provide a basis for the estimation of cost so as to compare UAE with surgical approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information was gathered from the clinical/accounting system for 23 patients who had UAE performed at a single institution. Cost-to-charge ratios and microcosting were employed to derive cost estimates. A detailed meta-analysis was also performed on the resource use parameters reported in the literature. RESULTS: Facility costs range from 2,058 dollars to 4,951 dollars and the mean total cost is 3,080 dollars. The radiology procedure and observation stay are the largest contributors to facility cost. The average length of stay is 21.5 hours with a range from 8 hours to 48 hours. The estimates from this analysis provide a good approximation of facility cost; there are no significant differences in resource use between this study and the meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The facility cost of UAE (3,080 dollars) compares favorably with hysterectomy, the cost of which ranges from 3,100 dollars to 4,900 dollars depending on the type of procedure performed. This cost information can be used to analyze the cost effectiveness of UAE compared to alternate therapies.