LONG-TERM RESULTS FOLLOWING TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION OF THE PROSTATE

Two subsets of a single-center study population with benign prostatic hyperplasia (n(1) = 232; n(2) = 214) undergoing transurethral resectio n (TUR) of the prostate (TURP 1979 and 1995) entered a retrospective s tudy designed to examine the long-term follow-up. The actual data were assessed with a patient-addressed questionnaire. Preoperative voiding patterns did not differ significantly; postoperative micturition reve aled comparable results for both groups. Mortality and TUR syndrome ra tes were reduced to very low levels. The most significant improvement was found in blood transfusions. The postoperative incidence of urethr al stricture (1.7 vs. 1.5%) or bladder neck contracture (2.7 vs. 2.4%) were low and did not alter significantly. Urinary incontinence change d for both collectives (11.4 vs. 3.3%). Urodynamic investigations reve aled that all (n = 2 1) but 1 of the patients with TURF 1979 had the i ncontinence due to different bladder dysfunctions, but not because of postoperative stress incontinence. The questionnaire about the patient 's actual contentment after TURF 1979 showed 79% of the patients still satisfied, 12% neutral and 9% dissatisfied with their micturition. Ov erall the patients reported a generally favorable view of TURP outcome in the long-term follow-up.