OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical application of transurethral plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (PKEP) to the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSA total of 90 BPH patients, aged 59-83 (mean 71) years and with indication of surgery, underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (the TURP group, n=50) and transurethral plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (the PKEP group, n=40), respectively. We recorded and analyzed the preoperative prostate volume, IPSS, QOL and Qmax, operation time, intra- and post-operative bleeding and complications, postoperative continuous bladder irrigation, and IPSS, QOL and Qmax at 2 weeks and 6 months after surgery.

RESULTSThe preoperative prostate volume and operation time were 58.9 g and 58.8 min in the TURP group versus 58.3 g and 93.0 min in the PKEP group. Mild transurethral resection syndrome (TURS) appeared in 2 TURP receivers, while no abnormality was found in electrocardiogram monitoring in those undergoing PKEP. Continuous bladder irrigation was necessitated in 3 and urgent incontinence of urine occurred in 4 cases of TURP, as compared with 1 and 4 cases in the PKEP group. None of the 90 patients needed blood transfusion. At 2 weeks before and after surgery and 6 months postoperatively, IPSS averaged 19.7, 11.6 and 5.1, QOL 4.6, 3.3 and 1.1, and Qmax 6.3, 13.0 and 18.1 ml/s in the TURP group versus 18.6, 8.4 and 4.9 (IPSS), 4.5, 2.7 and 1.1 (QOL) and 6.9, 14.2 and 19.0 ml/s (Qmax) in the PKEP group. There were significant differences in operation time, IPSS and QOL at 2 weeks postoperatively between the two groups, as well as in IPSS, QOL and Qmax at 6 months before and after surgery (P < 0.01). But no remarkable differences were found in preoperative prostate volume, IPSS, QOL and Qmax, 6-month postoperative IPSS and QOL, and Qmax at 2 weeks and 6 months after surgery between the two groups (P > 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTransurethral PKEP is a safe, effective and thorough surgical method to be chosen for the treatment of BPH.