Comparative outcomes of plasmakinetic versus monopolar transurethral resection of benign prostatic hyperplasia: 7 years' results

Objective: We compared results from the standard monopolar or the bipolar plasmakinetic method for the transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) at 4 and 7 years after surgery (medium to long term).

Material and methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the complete data from 124 patients who were alive and had 7 years of regular follow-up. Of those 124 patients with BPH, 65 (52%) underwent monopolar TURP (M-TURP) and 59 (48%) underwent plasmakinetic TURP (P-TURP). During the follow-up period, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the maximal flow rate (Qmax) measured using uroflowmetry and the prostate specific antigen (PSA) values were recorded. Patients in whom alpha blockers were administered due to the growth of postoperative adenoma and who had been operated on due to urethral stricture, bladder neck contracture or a growing adenoma were also noted and recorded.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between M-TURP and P-TURP groups in any pre-operative or post-operative follow-up parameter at 4 or 7 years post-surgery. Specifically, PSA, IPSS and Qmax values; urethrotomies performed; alpha-blocker use; and the frequency of re-operations were statistically insignificant (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that when medium-to long-term results are compared, P-TURP and M-TURP appear to result in similar IPSS scores, Qmax values, complication rates and retreatment rates. Larger prospective studies are required to corroborate these results.