Factors influencing bleeding during transurethral prostatectomy

Operating time, the weight of the prostate, blood loss, and bleeding rate (ml/min) were recorded during transurethral prostatectomy in 417 patients. There were significant correlations between prostate weight and blood loss (r = .589; P less than 0.001) and between operating time and blood loss (r = .551; P less than 0.0001). Bleeding rate was significantly correlated with prostate weight (r = .399; P less than 0.0001) but not with operating time. Results of multiple regression analysis confirmed that bleeding was more closely related to prostate weight than to operating time. Operating time appears to be an iatrogenic factor in blood loss during transurethral prostatectomy.