The influence of histological diagnosis on the postoperative complication rate following trans-urethral resection of prostate (TURP)

Background: A number of studies have shown that the early mortality following TURP is higher for patients with prostate cancer than those with benign disease. This study examines the effect of the histological diagnosis on the predischarge complication rate following TURP. Methods: Information on the postoperative, predischarge complications of 3036 patients, who underwent TURP over the last decade at our institution, was collated from the urology department database (AuditBase(TM) for Windows). The information on this database is collected prospectively, at the point of care and validated at monthly audit meetings. Statistical analyses were performed using chi(2) and difference of proportion where n > 60. Statistical significance was taken as P < 0.05. Results: The postoperative, predischarge major complication rate for patients with benign disease was 2.1%. This was not statistically different from the 2.3% complication rate seen in patients with malignant disease. Patients suffering a postoperative complication stayed in hospital significantly longer than those who had a straightforward postoperative course (P < 0.001); however, patients with malignant histology suffering a postoperative complication did not stay statistically significantly longer than those with benign histology suffering a postoperative complication (P < 0.1). Conclusions: Patients undergoing TURP for prostate cancer do not suffer more postoperative, predischarge complications or stay in hospital longer than patients undergoing TURP for benign disease.