The changing trend in prostatectomy in a district general hospital.

The results of 600 prostatectomies performed at Kingston Hospital are reviewed with particular reference to morbidity and mortality. The indication for surgery was prostatism in 61% of patients and retention in 34.5%. Transurethral resection (TUR) was performed in 65.5% of the operations. The mean postoperative stay for TUR was 6 days but for open operation 10 days. The overall complication rate including urinary tract infections was 14.8%, with an overall mortality of 1.3%. The results show the trends and improvement in service achieved since an earlier report of 600 cases published in 1979.