In 1989 two large-scale multicenter studies on the mortality and morbi
dity of transurethral resection of the prostate were published [Mebust
et al.: J Urol 141:243-247, 1989; Roos et al.: N Engl J Med 320:1120-
1124, 1989]. These studies caused us to perform a retrospective study
on a total of 1,211 consecutive patients who underwent transurethral r
esection of the prostate at our department between January 1988 and Ju
ly 1991. The mortality rate in the 1,211 patients subjected to transur
ethral resection of the prostate was 0.00%; none of the patients died
of intraoperative or postoperative complications. Intraoperative compl
ications were observed in 8.9% of the patients, while the rate of earl
y postoperative complications was 15.8%. Of the 1,211 patients operate
d on, 775 were followed for at least 1 year postoperatively. Late comp
lications were noted in 11.2% of the patients. Repeat resection had to
be performed in 0.9% of patients within 1 year, and in 2.5% within 3
years after surgery. A comparison of the studies by Mebust et al, and
Roos et al. yielded similar rates of intraoperative and postoperative
complications, whereas our mortality rate and repeat transurethral res
ection rate were significantly lower. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.