Benign prostatic hyperplasia: mode of presentation and postoperative outcome

To find out various modes of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) presentation in our region and their relation to postoperative failure to void after transurethral resection of prostate (TURP).

A study was conducted at Urology Department, Sandeman Teaching Hospital Quetta and Akram Hospital (Private) Quetta from January 2000 to December 2003. All BPH patients in whom the primary mode of presentation was accurately determined and later on underwent TURP were included in the study. Four modes of presentation were defined: (1) lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), (2) acute retention, (3) chronic retention and (4) and acute on chronic retention. After relevant investigations all these patients underwent TURP. Postoperatively catheter was removed when the urine was clear, usually within 48 hours of operation. Patients failing to void were recatheterized and given a second trial without catheter (TWOC) at third day of recatheterization. Resumption of spontaneous voiding on either the first or second TWOC was defined as "successful TWOC". Failure to void on second TWOC was defined as "failure to void" and was managed by a six week period of catheterization, followed by an additional TWOC. Statistical analysis was used to see any significant relation of failure to void postoperatively to mode of presentation of BPH, age of the patients and weight of the resected prostatic tissues.

A total of 345 BPH patients were included in the study. Of these 270 (78.3%) patients presented with urinary retention and 75 (21.7%) with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Patients who presented with retention were acute retention 129 (37.4%), chronic retention 81(23.5%) and acute on chronic retention 60 (17.4%). The proportion of men failing to void after TURP was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in those with (i) acute retention as compared to LUTS (ii) chronic retention compared to acute retention and (iii) acute on chronic retention as compared to acute retention. The proportion of men failing to void postoperatively was highly significant (P < 0.005) in those with retention of any type as compared to LUTS. Age of the patients and weight of the resected prostatic tissues were found not significant factors in relation to failure to void postoperatively.

BPH patients in our region present very late, most of them (> 78%) with complication of urinary retention. Mode of presentation of BPH greatly influences the postoperative outcome of this disease. Patients presenting with complications of chronic and acute on chronic retention have less favourable results regarding pOstoperative voiding after TURP. Moreover age of the patient and weight of the prostate are not significant factors in relation to failure to void postoperatively.