BPH 07. Comparison of bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate with monopolar transurethral resection performed by a single surgeon

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and compared with monopolar TURP performed by a single surgeon.

Materials and Methods: 85 patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who underwent TURP between November 2005 and November 2010 by a single surgeon were reviewed retrospectively. 50 patients underwent standard monopolar TURP, and 35 patients underwent bipolar TURP with Gyrus PlasmaKinetic System.

Results: The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. No statistically significant difference was found in prostate resection time (54.0±15.9 vs. 50.4±21.0 min, P=0.404) between the monopolar TURP group and the bipolar TURP group. However, resection volume and resection velocity in the bipolar TURP group was higher than that in the monopolar TURP group, and the difference was statistically significant (resection volume: 18.3±10.3 vs. 27.6±19.2 g, P=0.012) resection velocity 0.33±0.13 vs. 0.51±0.19 g/min, P<0.001). No statistically significant difference was found in hematocrit variation at 24-hr follow-up, maximal urinary flow, post-void residual urine and catheterization time between the monopolar TURP group and the bipolar TURP group.

Conclusions: In our experience, bipolar TURP showed comparable postoperative outcomes compared with monopolar TURP, albeit with higher resection velocity