Prostatectomy: a survey of 2,000 cases.

A statistical analysis was made of 2,000 consecutive cases in which prostatic operations were done in the period 1947-1957 at the Southern Pacific General Hospital. The operations included transurethral resections as well as perineal, retropubic and suprapubic prostatectomy. The mortality rates were lowest for transurethral resection and highest for retropubic prostatectomy. Coronary artery disease and pulmonary embolism were the chief causes of death. It was generally felt that preliminary partial vasectomy previous to transurethral resection added very little to successful convalescence. Although distilled water was used routinely for irrigation during transurethral resection, there was no incidence of lower nephron nephrosis. The incidence of recurrence of prostatic obstruction was highest by far after transurethral resection.