EDITORIAL COMMENT

Abstract

For decades, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) was the gold standard surgical management for bladder outlet obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Spinal anesthesia was often favored in order to monitor for TURP (or TUR) syndrome, a major risk of monopolar TURP.1,2 Currently, with many surgical options available for BPH that can be performed with saline irrigation, the incidence of TUR syndrome has drastically decreased. Accordingly, use of spinal anesthesia for outlet procedures is now more dependent on practice patterns, provider preference, or reserved for patients at high risk for general anesthesia.