New modification of transurethral incision of the prostate in surgical treatment of bladder outlet obstruction: prospective study.

AIM: To analyze long-term effects of short and shallow incision of the prostate, a new modification of transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP), as a method of resolving bladder outlet obstruction and preserving anterograde ejaculation and potency. METHOD: Fifty patients with symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction caused by a small benign prostate tumor of less than 30 g estimated weight were included in a nonrandomized, prospective study and underwent transurethral incision of the prostate. In the patients with normal sexual activity (n=28), short and shallow incisions were made, limited to the prostatic urethra and reaching to the fibrous capsule. In sexually inactive men (n=22), longer and deeper incisions were made, extending from below the urethral orifice upward to the verumontanum and in depth to the perivesical and periprostatic fat. All incisions were made at 5 and 7 o clock. Preoperative and postoperative evaluations performed 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 40, 48, 54, 60, 66, and 72 months after surgery were based on the International Prostate Symptom Scores (I-PSS), uroflowmetry, patients overall assessment of surgery outcome, and a sexual function questionnaire. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 42 months (6-72 months). There was a significant improvement in urinary peak flow rates and I-PSS decreased significantly during the follow-up period in both groups (p<0.05). Surgery outcome was rated satisfactory by all patients, with no difference between the groups. All 28 patients sexually active before the surgery retained their sexual activity after surgery; only one developed retrograde ejaculation. Two patients, one from each group, underwent further urologic treatment (transurethral resection of the prostate) 36 and 42 months after transurethral incision of the prostate, respectively. CONCLUSION: Transurethral short and shallow incision at 5 and 7 o clock is an effective method for long-term relief of bladder outlet obstruction in patients with small, benign prostate tumor. It has equally good long-term outcome as the classic long and deep transurethral incision but with fewer complications. None of the patients operated by this new method had lost potency and only a single one developed retrograde ejaculation.