OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and effect of early removal of the urethral catheter after transurethral plasma kinetic resection of the prostate (PKRP) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSWe equally randomized 128 BPH patients treated by PKRP to an experimental group and a control group, urethral catheters removed at 1 -2 days for the former and at 5 -7 days for the latter. We compared the relevant indexes and clinical effects between the two groups.

RESULTSThe baseline data were not significantly different between the two groups. Compared with the controls, the experimental group showed a significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay ([6.8 +/- 1.9] d vs [3.7 +/- 1.5] d, P < 0.05) and lower infection rate (25.0% vs 10.9%, P < 0.05). All the patients were followed up for 3 -6 months postoperatively. At 3 months after surgery, both the experimental and the control groups showed remarkable improvement in the International Prostatic Symptoms Scores (4. 9 +/- 2. 2 vs 5. 3 +/- 2. 3), maximum urine flow rate ([21.5+/- 5.6 ] ml/s vs [19.1 +/-4.9 ] ml/s) , and residual urine ( [ 16.8+/- 10.3 ] ml vs [18.9 +/- 12.3 ] ml), but with no significant differences between the two (P > 0.05) , and no significant differences were observed in postoperative complications (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONEarly removal of the urethral catheter after PKRP, with its advantages of shorter postoperative hospital stay, lower infection rate, and no influence on the long-term effect, deserves to be recommended as a routine method in the treatment of BPH.