title: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)--in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) in Mekelle, Ethiopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the efficacy and safety of TURP in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective record analysis of patients seen at the surgical referral clinic from Dec. 01, 2003 to Nov. 30, 2006 in Mekelle hospital with symptoms suggestive of bladder outflow obstruction caused by BPH. All patients included were carefully scrutinized and subjected to general medical evaluation including digital rectal examination (DRE) and abdominal ultrasonography. The volume, the size of the prostate and the symptoms of BPH were recorded and analyzed. The prostate volume not more than 80 cm3 with moderate to severe obstructive symptoms was selected for TURP offers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study there were 71 patients with symptomatic BPH disease among whom 65 cases underwent TURP in Mekelle hospital. In the latter group, ages ranged from 42-86 years with median age of 70 years (mean 66.8 years). Of the total patients seen for BPH disease, six patients had prostate volume greater than 80 cm3 determined by abdominal ultrasonography with DRE who underwent open surgical treatment. Four and two cases had retropubic and transvesical prostatectomies respectively accounting for 8.4%. Longer hospital stay and more resource implications were observed in this group. Of the 65 cases, in sixty (92.3%) patients, TURP alone was of fered. Three (4.6%) cases had both BPH and bladder stone diseases all treated by TURP and litholapaxy at one go. Of these patients two (3.0%) cases had urethral stricture with BPH treated by DVU (direct vision internal urethrotomy) and TURP. In fifty eight (89.2%) of the patients, the outcome after TURP was successful in relieving symptoms. The hospital stay after TURP offers ranged from 2 up to 5 days, the median was 3 days and the mean 2.5 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study has revealed that in 58 (89.2%) of the patients with BPH, TURP provided relief of symptoms and improvements in urine flow with minimum complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mekele Hospital, Mekele, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Mekonnen Hagos
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Alemu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005002:Ethiopia; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014524:Urethral Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*