Trial of Void at Home After Green Light Laser Photosensitive Vaporisation of the Prostate: A Proof of Concept

Background/Objectives: Green light laser photosensitive vaporisation of the prostate (GLL-PVP) is a common procedure for bladder outlet obstruction, with a low incidence of post-operative bleeding. At Northern Health, postoperative management involved limited bladder washout with two bags of 2 L saline, spigotting, and undergoing a trial of void (TOV) the next morning. A new model of care was commenced in which patients were discharged after the two bags of washout, and the TOV occurred at home through the Hospital in the Home service. The aim of this study was to audit patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, and health service benefits of this novel program. Methods: Patients assigned to the program between March 2023 and June 2024 were analysed. Catheter removal occurred the morning after surgery, and the decision on the success of the TOV was made following an afternoon review. Results: A total of 93.3% (28/30) patients passed their TOV at home. There were no readmissions in the first 48 h postoperation, with only three emergency department (ED) presentations in this time. On a five-point rating scale, 25/25 questionnaire respondents were happy with their care, 20/25 rated the service as very good, and 5/25 rated the service as good. An extra AUD 3377.56 in revenue was generated per patient from the freed inpatient beds, which correlated to a net revenue of AUD 83,016.83 generated over the study period. Conclusions: At-home TOV after GLL-PVP is safe and feasible. There is high patient satisfaction and significant benefits to the healthcare system. This framework can additionally be adopted after other urological surgeries.