[Various problems concerning the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy--operative treatment; subcapsular...

We were quite puzzled to be asked to talk about open surgery for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) at this symposium because transurethral resection prostatectomy (TUR-P) is now the usual procedure and open surgery is rarely performed. Problems arise when open surgery is performed rather than TUR-P as the main treatment for BPH under these circumstances and the criticism of negligence is inevitable. Cases in which open surgery was performed because the application of TUR-P seemed unsuitable are reviewed.