Prostatectomy at a district general hospital.

The mortality and morbidity in 600 patients undergoing prostatectomy at a district general hospital are reviewed. Below the age of 70 years the operative mortality was 1% compared with an overall mortality of 2.3%. Cardiorespiratory disease accounted for the majority of deaths. The increase of postoperative stay due to complications may be reduced by lowering the complication rate and, in the long term, reducing pre-existing cardiorespiratory disease.