Transurethral resection of the prostate: A study of the comparison between young patients and old patients

In our clinic 338 patients who had undergone transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) between 1995 and 2000 were retrospectively reviewed, focusing on the safety and complications. 32 (9.5%) patients were in their fifties, 171 (50.6%) patients in their sixties, 111 (32.8%) patients in their seventies and 24 (7.1%) patients were in their eighties. Patients in their seventies and eighties had a significantly lower preoperative hemoglobin and albumin concentration than patients in their fifties and sixties. But the decreased rate of hemoglobin concentraion between preoperation and postoperation was not significantly different between them. Moreover, the recovery of hemoglobin concentration between postoperative day 0 and postoperative day 1 was not significantly different either. This indicated that older patients with lower hemoglobin concentration were capable of good recovery after the operation. In conclusion, even patients in their eighties can safely receive TUR-P.