INCIDENCE OF ERECTILE IMPOTENCE SECONDARY TO TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION OF BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA, ASSESSED BY PREOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE SNAP GAUGE TESTS

In an attempt to assess the impotence rate secondary to transurethral resection of the prostate more objectively than by merely interviewing patients, potency was evaluated with the SnapGauge test. The test wa s used preoperatively to recruit patients with intact potency. The 98 patients studied underwent transurethral resection of the prostate and were retested during postoperative night 4. Of the 98 patients 64 rem ained potent while 34 did not. These 34 men were retested 3 months lat er, and 26 were potent and 8 were impotent. Therefore, 8 of 98 patient s (8.3%) became impotent as a consequence of transurethral resection o f the prostate. The risk specific to subgroups in cases of small (less than 10 gm. resectable tissue) and larger adenomas is 11.1% and 7.7%, respectively, for men older than 65 years, and 7.1% and 0%, respectiv ely, for men younger than 65 years. A selective indication taking into account patient age and prostatic size might further lower the alread y low impotence risk of transurethral resection of the prostate.