Korean J Urol.  2010 Nov;51(11):763-766.

Warm Sitz Bath: Are There Benefits after Transurethral Resection of the Prostate?

• Park SU
• Lee SH
• Chung YG
• Park KK
• Mah SY
• Hong SJ
• Chung BH

Abstract

PURPOSE
We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of warm water sitz baths in patients who have undergone transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) owing to lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We reviewed the records of 1,783 patients who had undergone TURP between 2001 and 2009. In the warm water sitz bath group, patients were instructed to sit in a tub containing lukewarm water at 40-45degrees C for 10 minutes each time. Patients were advised to perform the procedure for at least 5 days immediately after the removal of a Foley urethral catheter. The differences in post-TURP complications between the warm water sitz bath group and the no sitz bath group were compared.
RESULTS
After TURP, 359 of the 1,561 patients performed a warm water sitz bath. Complications after TURP, such as hemorrhage, urinary tract infection, urethral stricture, and acute urinary retention were found in 19 (5.3%) and 75 (6.2%) patients in the sitz bath and no sitz bath groups, respectively (p=0.09). There was a significant difference in postoperative complications such as urethral stricture between the warm sitz bath group and the no sitz bath group (p=0.04). The group that did not undergo warm water sitz bath treatment showed a 1.13-fold increased risk of rehospitalization within 1 month after TURP due to postoperative complications compared with the warm water sitz bath group (odds ratio [OR]=1.134; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.022 to 1.193; p=0.06).
CONCLUSIONS
Warm water sitz bath treatment reduced postoperative complications such as urethral stricture. These results suggest that large-scale prospective studies are needed to establish an ideal method and optimal duration of sitz baths.

Keyword

Complications; Hydrotherapy; Transurethral resection of prostate; Urethral stricture

MeSH Terms

Baths
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hydrotherapy
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Postoperative Complications
Prostate
Prostatic Hyperplasia
Transurethral Resection of Prostate
Urethral Stricture
Urinary Catheters
Urinary Retention
Urinary Tract Infections
Water
Water

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