No evidence of fluid absorption during continuous low-pressure transurethral resection of the prostate: assessment by measuring expiratory breath ethanol concentrations.
OBJECTIVE
Measurement of the ethanol concentration in expired breath during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).


METHODS
TURP is a noninvasive method to estimate the amount of irrigant absorbed. The expiratory breath ethanol concentrations (EBEC) were measured with a standard alcohol breath analyzer in 35 patients in the course of TURP. All interventions were performed with a 27-french continuous flow resectoscope using a solution of 1. 5% glycine + 1% ethanol as irrigating fluid. Serum sodium and osmolality were measured pre- and postoperatively. No patient developed signs of transurethral resection syndrome; no significant changes in serum sodium, osmolality and EBEC were found throughout the operation.


CONCLUSIONS
Absorption of irrigant fluid during TURP with continuous low-pressure irrigation seems to be extremely slight (if not absent) as measured by expired breath ethanol method.
Department of Urology, University of Padua, Italy. isturopd@uxl.unopd.it
F
F
Aragona
N
N
Panza
A
A
Mangano
E
E
Castellucci
A
A
Capizzi
D000042:Absorption; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001944:Breath Tests; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis*; D005998:Glycine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D012996:Solutions / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
D012996:Solutions; D000431:Ethanol; D012964:Sodium; D005998:Glycine