ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Short-stay transurethral prostate surgery: A randomized
controlled trial comparing transurethral resection in saline
bipolar transurethral vaporization of the prostate with
monopolar transurethral resection
Chi-hang Yee,
1
Joseph Hon-ming Wong,
2
Peter Ka-fung Chiu,
1
Chi-kwok Chan,
1
Wai-man Lee,
1
James Hok-leung Tsu,
3
Jeremy Yuen-chun Teoh
3
& Chi-fai Ng
1
1 Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2 Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Hong Kong
3 Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Keywords
Benign Prostatic Hyerplasia (BPH); lower
urinary tract symptoms; TURP
Correspondence
Chi-hang Yee, Division of Urology,
Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales
Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
Tel: +852 26322625
Fax: +852 26377974
Email: yeechihang@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk
Received: 23 February 2015; revised 28 April
2015; accepted 30 April 2015
DOI:10.1111/ases.12197
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to establish the safety and efficacy
profile of transurethral resection in saline (TURis) bipolar vaporization of the
prostate relative to monopolar transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) and
to test the hospital stay efficiency after TURis vaporization.
Materials and Methods: in this multicenter, double-blinded, prospective, ran-
domized controlled trial, men aged 50–75 years old were randomized into
two arms: TURis bipolar vaporization and monopolar TURP. Intraoperative
details, perioperative parameters, and postoperative functional outcomes
were assessed after intervention. Follow-up with symptom score assessment,
prostate volume measurement, and uroflowmetry were performed at 3 and
6 months.
Results: Eighty-four patients (mean age, 65.0 ± 5.6 years) were randomized
into each study arm. TURis bipolar vaporization had a longer operative
time than monopolar TURP (51.6 ± 24.5 vs 38.5 ± 20.3 min, P < 0.001). Post-
operatively, the TURis group had a shorter catheter time (33.6 ± 23.7 vs
40.8 ± 29.4 h, P = 0.013) and a shorter length of hospital stay (43.14 ± 18.79
vs 52.33 ± 30.58 h, P = 0.013). The postoperative dysuria score was higher in
the TURis vaporization arm. There was no statistically significant difference
between the two arms in terms of hemoglobin change and postoperative
complication. No significant difference was observed in quality of life score at
3 and 6 months.
Conclusions: TURis bipolar vaporization of the prostate is a safe and compa-
rable alternative to monopolar TURP. It leads to a reduction in both catheter
time and length of hospital stay.
Introduction
Lower urinary tract symptoms are common (1,2). Cur-
rently, monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate
(TURP) is considered the surgical gold standard for the
management of symptomatic benign prostatic enlarge-
ment in prostates between 30 and 80 mL (3). However,
monopolar TURP has some drawbacks, and bipolar TURP
is one of the major advances that have tried to address
the flaws of monopolar TURP.
A modification of the bipolar TURP technique is
transurethral resection in saline (TURis) bipolar electro-
vaporization. The employment of a “button” electrode
instead of a resection-based technique has been reported
to reduce the bleeding rate (4). Furthermore, a ran-
domized controlled trial showed that a hybrid bipolar
Asian J Endosc Surg ISSN 1758-5902
Asian J Endosc Surg 8 (2015) 316–322
© 2015 Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery, Asia Endosurgery Task Force and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd. 316