ETHANOL MONITORING OF THE TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION SYNDROME

Ethanol monitoring is a fairly new method of assessing fluid absorptio n during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). By using an i rrigating fluid containing a trace amount of ethanol, the absorption c an be measured by expired-breath tests. We describe a TURF in which la rge-scale absorption of imigating fluid occurred despite the use of a pressure-warning device set at 10 cm H2O. The surgeon decicded to term inate the operation because 1.0 liters of fluid had been absorbed over 10 minutes, and another 1.0 liter was absorbed during the 10 minutes required to conclude the surgery. The high absorption rate suggests th at continued resection would have promoted a severe transurethral rese ction syndrome. This was prevented by the indication given by the brea th test, whereas the pressure-warming device failed to do so. (C) 1996 by Elsevier Science Inc.