Long-term results following transurethral resection of the prostate.

Two subsets of a single-center study population with benign prostatic hyperplasia (n(1) = 232; n(2) = 214) undergoing transurethral resection (TUR) of the prostate (TURP 1979 and 1995) entered a retrospective study designed to examine the long-term follow-up. The actual data were assessed with a patient-addressed questionnaire. Preoperative voiding patterns did not differ significantly; postoperative micturition revealed comparable results for both groups. Mortality and TUR syndrome rates were reduced to very low levels. The most significant improvement was found in blood transfusions. The postoperative incidence of urethral stricture (1.7 vs. 1.5%) or bladder neck contracture (2.7 vs. 2.4%) were low and did not alter significantly. Urinary incontinence changed for both collectives (11.4 vs. 3.3%). Urodynamic investigations revealed that all (n = 21) but 1 of the patients with TURP 1979 had the incontinence due to different bladder dysfunctions, but not because of postoperative stress incontinence. The questionnaire about the patient's actual contentment after TURP 1979 showed 79% of the patients still satisfied, 12% neutral and 9% dissatisfied with their micturition. Overall the patients reported a generally favorable view of TURP outcome in the long-term follow-up.