Urology News

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Quality of life after transurethral prostate resection (TURP)

Transurethral prostate resection (TURP) is not only clinically effective but also improves patients‘ quality of life for at least 12 years, investigators at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Scotland, report.

Dr. Said Fadel Mishriki and … colleagues prospectively followed 280 consecutive TURP patients, who completed questionnaires at 3 months, 6 months, 6 years and 12 years after the procedure. The investigators then calculated the American Urological Association symptom score and flow rates, and assessed quality of life (QOL), „bother“ and satisfaction. Baseline QOL and bother scores were 8.16 and 15.45, respectively.

Mean QOL and bother scores improved to 2.54 and 4.84, respectively, at six months, to 3.71 and 7.14, respectively, at 6 years and to 3.74 and 7.67, respectively, at 12 years, the researchers report in the August issue of Urology.

„This, the longest prospective study published in the literature assessing the outcome of TURP, has set a milestone,“ Dr. Mishriki commented. „Other ablative and minimally invasive procedures should be compared to the long-term results of this study.“

„The improvements in the QOL and bother scores were consistent and statistically significant (and were) associated with long-term high patient-rated satisfaction,“ he noted. „TURP remains the gold standard for the treatment of patients with outflow obstruction secondary to benign prostatic enlargement,“ Dr. Mishriki said. „Our findings most definitely dispel any misconceptions about TURP, such as incontinence.“ He added, „There will be a separate publication showing that TURP is not associated with erectile dysfunction.“ Dr. Mishriki’s team reported 6-year data in a presentation titled „TURP can improve your sex life“ at the American Urological Association annual meeting in 2006, „which received the best presentation award,“ he commented. „We are due to submit the 12 year follow-up study for publication within the next few weeks. I hope this should reassure patients about the outcome of TURP.“