African Journal of Urology (2012) 18, 29 33 Pan African Urological Surgeons Association African Journal of Urology www.ees.elsevier.com/afju www.sciencedirect.com Transurethral incision versus transurethral resection of the prostate in small prostatic adenoma: Long-term follow-up O. Abd-El Kader a,k.mohyelden b,, A. El Nashar a, A. Hussein a,e.yehya a a Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt b Department of Urology, Fayoum University, Egypt Received 24 August 2011; received in revised form 11 February 2012; accepted 17 February 2012 KEYWORDS TURP; TUIP; Small prostate Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) compared to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in patients with small benign prostate adenoma, based on long-term follow-up. Patients and methods: We prospectively randomized 86 men with bladder outlet obstruction symptoms caused by a prostate less than 30 g to undergo TUIP or TURP. The following preoperative parameters were evaluated: prostate weight, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), voided volume, maximum flow rate (Qmax) and post-void residual volume (PVR). Postoperatively the patients were followed up for 48 months and the following data were collected: morbidity, operative time, catheterization period, hospital stay, Qmax, IPSS, voided volume, PVR and reoperation rate. Results: A total of 80 of the 86 patients completed the study: 40 patients in each group. The mean age of patients in group I (TURP) and group II (TUIP) was 63.6 and 66.2 years, respectively. Preoperative parameters in both groups showed no statistically significant differences with regard to uroflow parameters and prostate weight. At 48 months follow-up the mean voided volume increased from 161 ml to 356 ml in group I and from 161 ml to 341 ml in group II, Q-max increased from 8.4 to 18.4 in group I and 8.4 to 16.6 in group II, the IPSS decreased from 19 to 5.8 in group I and from 19 to 6.3 in group II and PVR decreased from 107 ml to 20 ml in Group I and from 109 ml to 21 ml in Group II (all differences statistically significant). Corresponding author. E-mail address: Kma02@fayoum.edu.eg (K. Mohy El Den). Peer review under responsibility of Pan African Urological Surgeons Association. 1110-5704 2012 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Pan African Urological Surgeons Association. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.afju.2012.04.007
30 O. Abd-El Kader et al. Comparing groups I and II there were statistically significant differences with regard to mean operative time (60.0 versus 20.6 min), duration of catheterization (3.2 versus 2.2 days), hospital stay (3.7 versus 2.6 days), and the incidence of postoperative retrograde ejaculation (52.5% versus 22.5%) and erectile dysfunction (20% versus 7.5%). Conclusion: TUIP and TURP for small prostatic adenoma of less than 30 g are equally effective in providing symptomatic improvement. TUIP is more advantageous with to side-effects, operative time, hospital stay and the duration of catheterization. 2012 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Pan African Urological Surgeons Association. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. Introduction Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic progressive disorder. One third of men older than 60 years will develop obstructive symptoms due to BPH, and approximately 25% of them will eventually require surgical intervention [1]. The aim of treating BPH is to improve bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and associated quality of life, and to prevent or decrease complications. Treatment options range from self-monitoring for mild symptoms, to drugs or even surgical intervention for moderate to severe symptoms [2]. Despite many recent innovations, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has been the benchmark therapy for BPH and it is still considered the reference standard of surgical treatment [3]. TURP is not without problems: 13% of patients need blood transfusion, 80% have retrograde ejaculation, and 15% complain of erectile dysfunction (ED). When looking at longer follow-up, 10% of patients will need a repeat procedure within 5 years and up to 5% will develop bladder neck stenosis or urethral stricture [4]. Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) is a simpler, more costeffective and less invasive procedure than TURP. It is recommended for patients in whom preservation of erectile function and antegrade ejaculation are important [4]. It has been suggested that at least half of the patients who undergo TURP could be treated effectively with TUIP, avoiding the complication of TURP [1,4]. Despite the encouraging results of TUIP, concerns remain regarding the duration of its efficacy, prostate size limitations and the re-operation rate [5]. TUIP is considered an under-utilized procedure in England only 2500 of these cases are performed annually, compared to 25,000 TURPs [2]. The aim of this study was to evaluate TURP versus TUIP after longterm follow-up in men with small prostatic adenoma 30 g, with regard to efficacy, cost-effectiveness, adverse effects and reoperation rate. Patients and methods Between January 2005 and December 2010, 86 men were selected from a large number of patients presenting to our urology departments with LUTS. The inclusion criteria were as follows: being on the waiting list for surgical treatment of BPH, total prostatic weight 30 g as measured with transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), and the ability to give informed consent. The exclusion criteria were: suspected prostate cancer (abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE), or elevated prostate specific antigen PSA), bladder pathology (including mass, stones or chronic cystitis), prominent median lobe of the prostate or inability to comply with the follow-up schedule. All patients were assessed for surgical and anesthetic fitness by clinical and laboratory evaluation. This included urine analysis, renal function tests, coagulation profile, liver enzymes, full blood count, PSA, chest X-ray and electrocardiogram. The international prostate symptom score (IPSS) [6] was documented and uroflowmetry (voided volume, maximum flow rate, average flow rate) was performed. The post-void residual urine volume (PVR) was calculated using ultrasound and confirmed by small caliber Nelaton catheter. Diagnostic cystoscopy was performed under spinal anesthesia prior to surgical intervention: TURP in group I patients and TUIP in group II. TURP was performed according to the standard technique using a 26F resectoscope and resecting the adenoma from the bladder neck to the verumontanum up to the level of the prostatic capsule. TUIP was performed by making bilateral incisions extending from the ureteric orifice to the verumontanum up to the level of the perivesical fat. A Collin s knife was used. After obtaining hemostasis, a 20F three-way transurethral catheter was inserted and continuous bladder irrigation started [5]. The following data were collected on all patients: operative time, perioperative morbidity, length of hospital stay and catheterization time. Follow-up visits were scheduled for every 6 months. At 48 months follow-up IPSS and uroflowmetry (voided volume, maximum flow rate, average flow rate, and PVR) were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using the paired samples test and Chi-square test with cross-tabulation for connected and unconnected variables. Results Of the 86 patients enrolled, 80 completed the study: 40 patients in each group. The mean weight of the prostate was 27.6 ± 2.4 g for TURP (group I) and 28.2 ± 2.1 g for TUIP (group II) measured by TRUS. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to age, pre-operative IPSS, uroflowmetry parameters and prostate weight (Table 1). When intraoperative and immediate postoperative variables were compared, statistically significant differences were found with regard to operative time, blood transfusion rate, duration of catheterization and length of hospital stay in favor of the TUIP group II (Table 2). Long-term follow-up at 48 months revealed significant improvements in both groups (Table 3).
TURP versus TUIP long term follow up 31 Table 1 Preoperative variables. Parameter Group Min Max Mean ± SD p-value Age (years) TURP 54 71 63.6 ± 4.2 0.288 TUIP 53 72 66.2 ± 6.1 IPSS TURP 15 26 19 ± 2 0.814 TUIP 16 25 19 ± 2 Voided volume (ml) TURP 136 186 161.6 ± 12.1 0.921 TUIP 141 185 161.2 ± 11.2 Average flow rate (ml/s) TURP 2.5 5.3 4.05 ± 0.7 0.303 TUIP 2.6 5.2 3.8 ± 0.6 Maximum flow rate (ml/s) TURP 7.5 9.9 8.4 ± 0.6 0.584 TUIP 7.5 9.5 8.4 ± 0.6 Post-void residual volume (ml) TURP 79 131 107.5 ± 18.4 0.797 TUIP 81 131 109.4 ± 18.1 IPSS, international prostate symptoms score. Table 2 Intraoperative and immediate postoperative variables. TURP TUIP p-value Operative time (min) 60.0 (±6.1) 20.6 (±3.1) 0.000 Blood transfusion N (%) 2 (5%) 0 (0%) 0.163 Duration of catheterization (days) 3.2 (±0.3) 2.2 (±0.3) 0.000 Length of hospital stay (days) 3.7 (±0.3) 2.6 (±0.3) 0.000 Table 3 Long-term follow-up (48 months). Parameter Group Pre-operative (mean ± SD) At 48 months (mean ± SD) p-value IPSS TURP 19 ± 2 5.8 ± 1.1 0.000 TUIP 19 ± 2 6.3 ± 1.2 0.000 Voided volume (ml) TURP 161.6 ± 12.1 356.1 ± 36.5 0.000 TUIP 161.2 ± 11.2 341.4 ± 36.2 0.000 Average flow rate (ml/s) TURP 4.1 ± 0.7 7.5 ± 1 0.000 TUIP 3.8 ± 0.6 7.1 ± 0.8 0.000 Maximum flow rate (ml/s) TURP 8.4 ± 0.6 18.4 ± 1 0.000 TUIP 8.4 ± 0.6 16.6 ± 0.8 0.000 Post void residual volume TURP 107.5 ± 18.4 20.6 ± 5.3 0.000 TUIP 109.4 ± 18.1 21.7 ± 5.3 0.000 At 48 months follow-up there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in IPSS and maximum flow rate, in favor of the TURP group I (Table 4). Complication and reoperation rates at 48 months follow-up are shown in Table 5. Retrograde ejaculation and ED were significantly less common in the TUIP compared with the TURP group. Re-operation was required in 4 patients who complained of severe obstructive voiding symptoms. Two patients in the TURP group developed bladder neck contracture and were subsequently treated with TUIP. Two patients in the TUIP group had obstructive prostate adenoma tissue and were treated with TURP. Urethral stricture occurred in one patient in each group and was managed with visual internal urethrotomy. Table 4 Comparison between TURP and TUIP at 48 months. Parameter Group Mean (±SD) p-value IPSS TURP 5.8 ± 1.1 0.025 TUIP 6.3 ± 1.2 Voided volume (ml) TURP 356.1 (±36.5) 0.226 TUIP 341.4 (±36.2) Average flow rate (ml/s) TURP 7.5 ± 1 0.079 TUIP 7.1 ± 0.8 Maximum flow rate (ml/s) TURP 18.4 ± 1 0.000 TUIP 16.6 ± 0.8 Post void residual volume (ml) TURP 20.6 (±5.3) 0.507 TUIP 21.7 (±5.3)
32 O. Abd-El Kader et al. Table 5 Complications at 48 months follow-up (values are shown as number and percentage). TURP TUIP p-value Retrograde ejaculation 21 (52.5%) 9 (22.5%) 0.000 Erectile dysfunction 8 (20%) 3 (7.5%) 0.036 Bladder neck contracture 2 (5%) 0 (0%) 0.160 Prostatic adenoma obstruction 0 (0%) 2 (5%) 0.160 Urethral stricture (n %) 1 (2.5%) 1 (2.5%) 1.000 Reoperation 3 (7.5%) 3 (7.5%) 1.00 Visual internal urethrotomy 1 (2.5%) 1 (2.5%) 1.00 TURP 0 (0%) 2 (5%) 0.160 TUIP 2 (5%) 0 (0%) 0.160 Discussion TURP has for many years been the most common method of removing obstructive prostatic adenoma through the urethra [7]. Instruments have undergone major technological improvements, resulting in decreased morbidity and mortality. However, TURP is still a potentially dangerous intervention, especially in the hands of the inexperienced endoscopist [8]. In this study, TUIP was effective in improving IPSS scores and uroflow parameters, as was TURP. This is in accordance with the findings by Yang et al. [1] in their review which included nine trials comparing the effectivity of TUIP versus TURP in prostates less than 30 g. Our results were comparable to those in many published series with regard to the degree of improvement in symptom score and uroflow parameters [5,9 11]. Patient satisfaction in the TUIP group was similar to that of the TURP group. There were statistically significant differences in IPSS and maximum flow rate between the 2 groups at 48 months follow-up, with the TURP group doing better than the TUIP group. Other authors reported similar results [5,7,12,13]. In our study, as in other studies, TUIP was associated with reduced operative time, less need for blood transfusion, shorter hospital stay, decreased period of catheterization and a lower incidence of retrograde ejaculation [5,9,10,14]. Tkocz and Prajsner [15] concluded that TUIP, which is a simple procedure with low morbidity, could replace TURP for patients with prostates less than 30 g. Similarly Lourenco and co-workers in a recent systematic review found that TUIP gave improvements similar to TURP, but with a lower incidence of adverse events [2]. In our study, the reoperation rate of 7.5% in both groups was different from that reported in the meta-analysis done by Lourenco and associates, who found that reoperation after TUIP was required more frequently than after TURP: 18.4% versus 7.2% [2]. This may be due to differences in the follow-up period and the small number of patients in our study. The follow-up period in our study was 48 months, which is longer than in the studies of Yang et al. [1] (3 12 months) and Riehmann et al. [7] (36 months). Similar to our data, reoperation was mostly performed within the first 24 months postoperatively. Lee and associates [16] extensively studied bladder neck contracture in their series: at follow-up of more than 36 months 9.7% of patients had bladder neck contracture after TUIP compared to 12.3% of patients after TURP. This rate was reduced to 6% when TURP was accompanied by TUIP. Other studies [14,17,18] concluded that bladder neck contracture occurred in approximately 8% of patients after resection of less than 20 g of prostatic tissue, and seldom after TUIP. In our study, the reoperation rate for obstruction was equal in both groups (7.5%), which is similar to the other studies [16 18]. Some authors [19 21] did not report a significant reoperation rate after TUIP. The underlying pathology of obstruction in our geographical area is often related to schistosomiasis and fibrosis of the prostate. This may explain the similar rate of recurrence of obstruction after TUIP compared with TURP. TUIP is preferable in many of these patients who are young and wish to father more children. 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