Efficacy of transurethral plasmakinetic resection of the prostate using a small-caliber resectoscope for benign prostatic hyperplasia with mild urethral stricture.

Objectives: The conventional Fr26 resectoscope is difficult to use in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) complicated by urethral stricture. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transurethral plasmakinetic resection of the prostate (PKRP) using a small-caliber (Fr18.5) plasmakinetic resectoscope combined with urethral dilation in patients with BPH and mild urethral stricture.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 37 patients with BPH and mild urethral stricture treated at the Department of Urology, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2023 to December 2023. All patients underwent PKRP with a small-caliber plasmakinetic resectoscope, followed by routine placement of a Fr20 three-way Foley catheter for continuous bladder irrigation. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Q_max), post-voiding residual urine volume (PVR), and Quality of Life (QOL) scores were compared before and after surgery. Perioperative indicators (intraoperative bleeding, operative time, postoperative catheterization time, and postoperative hospital stay) and complications were recorded.

Results: The median age was 69 years, and the median duration of voiding difficulty was 36 months. Median total prostate specific antigen (T-PSA) was 2.095 ng/mL, free prostate specific antigen (F-PSA) 0.561 ng/mL, and F/T ratio 0.3. Median prostate diameter was 48 mm and volume 41 mL. All 37 surgeries were completed successfully: 11 had external meatal stricture, 19 had mild anterior urethral stricture, and 7 had mild posterior urethral stricture (1 patient with a 1 cm pseudo-blind tract near the membranous urethral). Operative time was (2.4±0.7) hours, blood loss was (40±29) mL, median catheterization duration was 7 days, and median hospital stay was 7 days. No cases of postoperative urinary incontinence, recurrent hematuria, or sepsis occurred, and patients were satisfied with the surgical outcome. At 3 to 6 months follow-up, IPSS, Q_max, PVR, and QOL scores significantly improved compared to preoperative levels (all P<0.01), with no cases of urethral stricture progression or new-onset stricture.

Conclusions: PKRP using a small-caliber plasmakinetic resectoscope is safe and effective for treating BPH with mild urethral stricture. It offers advantages such as minimal trauma, rapid postoperative recovery, and a lower risk recovery, and a lower risk of aggravating urethral injury.