AUA 2017: Risk of hospitalization following outpatient prostate brachytherapy

Boston, MA (UroToday.com) This study evaluated the short term complication rates after brachytherapy of the prostate. Using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Database for California, the authors found hospital visits by 7% of the patients within 30 days from brachytherapy. Of those, 20.2% resulted in inpatient admission. The most common reasons for hospital visits were urinary retention (42.9%), hematuria (7.6%) and urinary tract infection (6%). Additionally, the authors found age >75 and prior hospital admissions to be risk factors for hospital visits after brachytherapy.

Brachytherapy of the prostate is touted as a simple, safe procedure, and a more conservative alternative to surgery. Although data regarding long term complications subsequent to brachytherapy is plentiful, there is a dearth of information on short term complications following brachytherapy. This study fills this knowledge gap and identifies the rate of hospital visits and inpatient admission after brachytherapy. In doing so, the authors highlight the not-so-benign course sometimes encountered following brachytherapy.

Presented By: Belinda Li, M.D., Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL

Reviewed by: Roger Li MD Urologic Oncology Fellow, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Ashish M. Kamat MD Professor, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston TX

at the 2017 AUA Annual Meeting - May 12 - 16, 2017 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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