Peri-operative morbidity and changes in symptom scores after transurethral prostatectomy in Switzerland: results of an independent assessment of outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To assess, in a prospective study, the contemporary outcome of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Switzerland, by evaluating peri-operative morbidity and changes in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).


METHODS
Between January 2000 and January 2005, 11 hospitals in Switzerland participated in the study. The hospitals were required to inform Verein Outcome (VO), an independent institution specialising in outcome measurements in the Swiss healthcare system, about patients with BPH who were scheduled for TURP. Later, the hospitals provided data on peri-operative complications in these patients. The patients' Danish Prostate Symptom Score (DAN-PSS) was obtained by VO before and 4 months after TURP (via mailed questionnaires).


RESULTS
Data on peri-operative complications from 1014 patients were included in this analysis. The mean (range) age of the patients was 69 (43-91) years. The most common complication after TURP was urinary retention, in 4.5% of the patients; the overall peri-operative complication rate was 9%. In all, 468 patients returned questionnaires both before and after TURP. The mean total DAN-PSS before and 4 months after surgery was 25.2 and 6.2, respectively (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this prospective multicentre study showed that the current peri-operative morbidity of TURP is lower than that reported from older large-scale trials. The independent assessment of symptom scores confirms that TURP is highly effective in alleviating bothersome LUTS due to BPH.
Müntener
Michael
M
Department of Urology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Aellig
Sonja
S
Küttel
Rolf
R
Gehrlach
Christoph
C
Hauri
Dieter
D
Strebel
Räto T
RT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*