Catheter‐free discharge on first postoperative day after bipolar transurethral resection of prostate: Clinical outcomes of 100 cases

Abstract

Our center has adopted a protocol for catheter-free first postoperative day discharge after bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate. We present the immediate, 1-month and 6-month outcomes of our first 100 cases following this protocol. All bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate patients followed the protocol regardless of indications and background comorbid conditions. Bladder irrigation was stopped in the evening after transurethral resection of the prostate, and the catheter was removed at 06.00 hours. All patients were discharged on the first postoperative day. They were reviewed at 1 month and 6 months with the International Prostate Symptom Score and uroflowmetry. The mean age of the study population was 70.8 years. A total of 40 patients had urinary retention and were on an indwelling catheter before transurethral resection of the prostate. A total of 14 patients had other surgeries in the same setting as the transurethral resection of the prostate. The mean resection weight was 32.7 g. The mean irrigation time and catheter time were 4.2 h and 15.0 h, respectively. The improvement in terms of International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life score, peak flow rate and post-void residual volume was comparable with those reported in the literature for bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate. Similarly, early and late complication rates also compared favorably with the literature. The perioperative cost was significantly reduced. Catheter-free first postoperative day discharge after bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate is safe with good clinical outcomes and cost savings.