Monopolar Transurethral Resection of the Prostate by a Single Surgeon in North-Central Nigeria: Surgical Results and Postoperative Complications.

Background: There has been an upsurge in the use of electrocautery in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in our environment. Monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (M-TURP) still remains the gold standard in the surgical management of BPH.

Objectives: To present our experience and the clinical outcome of M-TURP in north-central Nigeria.

Methods: Data on demographics, indications, comorbidities, duration of surgery, weight of resected tissue, outcome of surgery, and complications were collected. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Quality of Life (QoL) scores were assessed pre- and post-operatively. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Student t-test was used for the comparison of continuous data while categorical data were compared by using Chi-square. P-value was considered significant if <0.05.

Results: In this retrospective study, out of 227 men who met the inclusion criteria, two patients' procedures were converted to open surgery (conversion rate of 0.9%). The mean age of our patients was 65.2 + 7.5 years (44-90). The commonest indication for surgery was LUTS unresponsive to medical therapy (54.7%, n=123), followed by acute urinary retention (36.4%, n=82). The average weight of resected tissue was 36.5+12.1g (range 10-89) The weight of resected tissue correlated positively to prostate size measured by ultrasonography and it was also statistically significant (r = 0.568 and p-value <0.001). The early complications encountered were urinary tract infection (3.6%, n=8), clot retention (1.8%, n=4), and significant hematuria requiring blood transfusion (1.8%, n=4).

Conclusion: In our setting, M-TURP demonstrates safety and efficacy in treating BPH. Skill and experience contribute to better outcomes, facilitating the management of larger prostates through refined techniques.