SEQUENTIAL LAPAROSCOPIC BLADDER DIVERTICULECTOMY AND TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION OF THE PROSTATE

The surgical treatment of prostatic obstruction associated with a clin ically significant bladder diverticulum has classically combined open diverticulectomy with relief of the bladder outlet obstruction, This r eport demonstrates that this result may be efficiently achieved by per forming transurethral surgery followed immediately by laparoscopic exc ision of the diverticulum. As assessed by a retrospective comparison w ith four open bladder diverticulectomies combined with transurethral r esection of the prostate, laparoscopic diverticulectomy markedly reduc es the postoperative and convalescence period. The overall financial s aving that ensues may benefit both the patient and the healthcare syst em. Sequential laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy and transurethral resection of the prostate illustrates the increasing possibilities of minimally invasive surgery.