Prostatic hyperplasia over 80 grams weight, is transurethral resection an adequate procedure? Results of a...

A prospective study of transurethral resection with continuous low pressure irrigation was undertaken to find out, whether large prostates can be operated transurethrally without undue risk. Since 1986, the beginning of the study, 121 prostates with adenomas over 80 grams weight (> 80 g group) were resected. The mean age of the patients was 70.1 years, the mean weight of the resected prostate tissue was 104 grams in 66 minutes. The postoperative mortality was below 1% (1 patient). 17 patients (14%) needed blood transfusion, 11 patients had peroperative hemodilution. Even with large prostate, considering the rather high mean age of the patients treated, there is no considerably elevated operating risk, when large prostates are resected transurethrally. It however has to be emphasized, that this is achieved only with continuous low pressure irrigation and the loop of a 28 Fr. standard resectoscope in combination with an automatically regulated electrosurgical unit.