No Evidence of Fluid Absorption during Continuous Low-Pressure Transurethral Resection of the Prostate: Assessment by Measuring Expiratory Breath Ethanol Concentrations

Abstract

Objective: Measurement of the ethanol concentration in expired breath during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Methods: TURP is a noninvasive method to estimate the amount of irrigant absorbed. The expiratory breath ethanol concentrations (EBEC) were measured with a standard alcohol breath analyzer in 35 patients in the course of TURP. All interventions were performed with a 27-french continuous flow resectoscope using a solution of 1.5% glycine + 1% ethanol as irrigating fluid. Serum sodium and osmolality were measured pre- and postoperatively. No patient developed signs of transurethral resection syndrome; no significant changes in serum sodium, osmolality and EBEC were found throughout the operation. Conclusion: Absorption of irrigant fluid during TURP with continuous low-pressure irrigation seems to be extremely slight (if not absent) as measured by expired breath ethanol method.