Learning curve for bipolar transurethral enucleation and resection of the prostate in saline for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: experience in the first 100 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar transurethral enucleation and resection of the prostate in saline has recently been considered as a safe and technically feasible endoscopic procedure for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, it has not been accepted widely because of the perception of technical difficulty.
METHODS: A retrospective data review was performed of the first consecutive 100 patients who had undergone bipolar transurethral enucleation and resection of prostatic adenoma. Operative outcome, complications, ratio of conversion to conventional transurethral resection of the prostate and efficiency of tissue enucleation and resection were used to assess the learning curve.
RESULTS: Bipolar transurethral enucleation and resection of the prostate was successfully performed in 83 patients. The mean operative time was 117.5 min, and the mean indwelling catheterization was 3.3 ± 1.9 days. After 6 months, maximum urinary flow was 21.34 ± 4.09 ml/s, IPSS was 9.66 ± 2.64, and quality of life was 2.31 ± 0.92 with a residual prostate volume of 35.29 ± 17.57 ml. Regarding the learning curve, the ratio of conversion to conventional bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate decreased after 30 cases, and the efficiency of enucleation and resection increased significantly with accumulative experience after 50 cases.
CONCLUSIONS: The current results established that bipolar transurethral enucleation and resection of the prostate in saline is a safe and reproducible procedure.