OPEN OR TRANSURETHRAL SURGERY FOR THE LARGE PROSTATE-GLAND

A comparative study of transurethral (TUR) and open prostatectomy for the large prostate gland has been carried out. Over a 5-year period 94 transurethral resections and 73 open procedures were performed for prostate glands weighing more than 50 g. There was a single death in each group, giving relative mortality rates of 1.1% TUR and 1.4% open. The post-operative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the TUR group. The open group suffered significantly more complications in the first week but the TUR patients, although having fewer immediate post-operative complications, had significantly more in the first year, so that overall complication rates were similar (35% vs 36%). Patient satisfaction was equal in both groups.