Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Bipolar and Monopolar Transurethral Prostate Resection in Geriatric Patients.

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia unresponsive to medical treatment is an important problem for elderly patients. Although the gold standard surgical treatment is monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (MTURP), postoperative complications are still a concern.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine which transurethral prostate resection (TURP) methods are more effective and safer in elderly patients.

Methods: Patients who underwent TURP in our clinic between 2012 and 2021 were analyzed retrospectively and divided into three groups according to their ages. Patients were treated with MTURP (n = 169) and bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (BTURP) (n = 1152). Pre- and post-operative data for age groups were compared according to TURP methods.

Results: The resection speed in the BTURP method was statistically significantly faster in groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.05). Although not statistically significant (P > 0.05), there was a numerically smaller decrease in hemoglobin (Hb) value in group 2 and a numerically greater decrease in post-voiding residual (PVR) volume in groups 1 and 3 in the BTURP method. The increase in maximum urine flow (Qmax) was significantly higher only in group 2 (P = 0.032), but it was numerically higher in all groups in the BTURP method.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that BTURP was at least as effective and safe as MTURP in geriatric patients and also better in terms of Hb decrease, resection speed, Qmax increase, and PVR volume decrease.