The early days of prostatectomy for benign prostatic hypertrophy

The syndrome of bladder neck obstruction, often leading to retention of urine, in ageing men has been recognised since earliest times. Catheterisation for the relief of urinary retention was used by the ancient Chinese and Egyptians and is described in the writings of the Indian surgeon Susrata, who flourished in Benares sometime after Christ. Although many of these cases were the result of urethral stricture from trauma or gonorrhoea, we can assume that, in older men, the cause was often benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).