FEMORAL VEIN BLOOD-FLOW DURING TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION OF THE PROSTATE

Objective To determine whether bladder distension affects venous haemo dynamics during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) such th at irrigating fluid is more easily absorbed. Patients and methods The right common femoral vein was examined using an ultrasound Doppler blo od-flow scanner in 10 patients (mean age 73 years, range 63-80) underg oing TURP. Measurements of blood now were performed before, during and after the bladder was filled with irrigating solution. Fluid absorpti on was measured by the ethanol method. Results Measurements before, ha lf-way through and immediately after the resection all showed that the luminal diameter and the cross-sectional area of the femoral vein inc reased significantly when the bladder was filled with irrigating fluid . Furthermore, a decrease in the normal variation of blood now with br eathing often occurred when the bladder was filled, indicating that pr oximal venous obstruction was the cause of the increase in vessel diam eter. However, there was no apparent association between these changes and the absorption of irrigating fluid. Conclusions Filling the bladd er with irrigating fluid with the patient in the lithotomy position du ring TURF was followed by signs of iliac venous obstruction but this d id not correlate with the absorption of irrigating fluid.