Transurethral Resection of the Prostate

Abstract

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) causes a multitude of urinary symptoms as a result of obstruction of the bladder outlet. There are many phytotherapeutic and pharmacologic agents to treat BPH. BPH is more likely to be managed initially by primary care physicians and internists (49% of cases) than by urologists (37%) (1). Furthermore, minimally invasive techniques such as transurethral microwave hyperthermia (TUMT), transurethral needle ablation (TUNA), water-induced thermotherapy (WIT), and interstitial laser therapy have expanded the treatment options for BPH. Nevertheless, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) continues to be the mainstay of therapy and the gold standard surgical technique. In the United States, approx 25% of men are treated for BPH by the age of 80 yr, and more than 300,000 surgical procedures are performed annually for BPH. TURP is the second most commonly performed surgical procedure, at a cost estimated to be $2 billion (2). Despite the availability of pharmacotherapy and minimally invasive options, TURP remains a popular treatment for BPH because of its familiarity among urologists and superiority in treating the symptoms of prostatism, particularly urinary retention.