Is follow-up necessary after transurethral resection of the prostate?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the necessity for routine out-patient review following transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for benign prostatic hypertrophy.


METHODS
One-hundred and two patients with histologically proven benign prostatic hypertrophy were prospectively reviewed as out-patients. The views of their general practitioners were established by postal questionnaire.


RESULTS
At their first out-patient review 94 of 102 (92%) patients were discharged and only 2% (2/102) patients remained under review after 1 year. Apart from routine urine analysis, only four additional investigations were initiated at the routine clinical assessment. One patient was listed to undergo prostatic surgery again following the post-operative out-patient review. Over the next 16 months only three patients (3%) were re-referred with further urological problems. Confidence in a system without routine hospital out-patient review was expressed by 90% of general practitioners and 78% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Follow-up after TURP cannot be justified in terms of the perceived therapeutic benefit to patients. Patients should be discharged to the community and be assessed rapidly in out-patients if and when problems arise.
Perkins
J M
JM
Department of Urology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK.
O'Brien
T S
TS
Hanbury
D C
DC
Cranston
D W
DW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome