Is there a relationship between the amount of tissue removed at transurethral resection of the prostate and clinical improvement in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE To assess in a prospective trial the influence of the amount of tissue resected at transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for benign prostatic enlargement on the symptom improvement as assessed by symptom scores. METHODS Between December 1996 and August 1998 a total of 138 men (mean age 68.2, range 53-89) with symptomatic benign prostatic enlargement who underwent TURP participated in this prospective study. Patients were assessed preoperatively with the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the American Urological Association Bother Score (AUA-BS) and the Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index (BPH-II) as well as urinary flow rate measurements (Qmax) and prostate volume (PV) and residual urine determination by ultrasound. The amount of tissue resected was weighed. Patients were followed with reevaluation of Q(max), residual urine and the symptom and bother scores at 3 and 6 months. RESULTS A close correlation between preoperative PV (mean 49.0 ml, SD 22.0, range 13-140) and the resected tissue weight (RTW, mean 24.7 g, SD 18.0, range 6-128) was seen (r = 0.75, p < 0.001). Age was correlated with preoperative PV (r = 0.23, p < 0.05). While significant mean improvements in Q(max), residual volume and IPSS, AUA-BS and BPH-II were found 3 and 6 months postoperatively, a negative correlation was seen between the RTW and the IPSS, the AUA-BS and the BPH-II 3 months after TURP (r = -0.23, p < 0.024; r = -0.23, p < 0.025; r = -0.20, p = 0.05). No statistically significant correlation was seen between symptom change and the percentage of PV removed or the residual prostatic weight. Classification of the patients into groups depending on preoperative PV (< 30, 31-50, 51-70 and >70 ml) showed a tendency for patients with larger PV to gain more symptom improvement postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS Early symptom improvement after TURP will depend on the amount of tissue removed but the relationship is weak and affected by several other confounding factors. Apparently, the symptomatic improvement after TURP is not primarily dependent on the relative completeness of the resection. Patients with larger prostates and larger RTW tend to gain more symptomatic benefit from TURP than do patients with smaller prostates.