Korean J Urol.  2009 May;50(5):445-449.

The Functional Effect of Palliative Transurethral Resection of the Prostate on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Patients with Prostate Cancer

• Chung HS
• Im CM
• Kim SO
• Jung SI
• Kwon DD
• Park K
• Ryu SB

Abstract

PURPOSE: Voiding dysfunction occurs frequently in patients with prostate cancer. We investigated the functional effect of palliative transurethral resection of the prostate (pTURP) on lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with prostate cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively assessed all patients who had a pTURP at our institution between 1999 and 2006. Patients with incidental prostate cancer were excluded. In all, 64 patients were enrolled in the study. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the quality of life (QoL), the maximal flow rate (Qmax), and the postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) were evaluated before and after 3 months of pTURP. A positive functional outcome was defined as PVR below 100 ml, no additional catheterization, no repeat pTURP, and no development of urinary incontinence.
RESULTS
The patients' mean age was 76.32+/-6.8 years, and their mean prostate volume was 46.38+/-19.43 g. After pTURP, the mean IPSS improved from 25.83+/-6.71 to 18.63+/-5.96, the mean QoL score improved from 4.33+/-0.87 to 3.02+/-0.83, the mean maximal flow rate increased from 6.11+/-3.68 ml/sec to 14.20+/-6.30 ml/sec, and the PVR decreased from 153.69+/-32.03 ml to 41.89+/-25.35 ml. All voiding parameters showed significant improvement (p<0.001). Of the 64 patients, 12 had poor functional outcome after pTURP. The functional improvement rate of pTURP was 81.25%.
CONCLUSIONS
The pTURP performed in patients with prostate cancer showed a favorable effect and resulted in significant improvement in voiding dysfunction. In patients with high-stage metastatic prostate cancer or cancer unsuitable for curative therapy, pTURP could be considered as a safe treatment method to improve lower urinary tract symptoms.

Keyword

Transurethral resection of prostate; Prostatic neoplasms; Treatment outcome

MeSH Terms

Catheterization
Catheters
Humans
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Prostate
Prostatic Neoplasms
Quality of Life
Retrospective Studies
Transurethral Resection of Prostate
Treatment Outcome
Urinary Incontinence

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