[Transurethral electroresection--an alternative to the indwelling catheter of old patients with prostatic hypertrophy]. / Die transurethrale Elektroresektion--eine Alternative zum Dauerkatheter des alten Prostatikers.

The people become elder in this time, everywhere. The number of patients with adenoma of the prostate is increasing. Most of them have other diseases, too. A retrospective study (2646 cases in 8 years, exactly specially analysed 469 cases from 1975/1976) was done, comparing the results of TUR and open surgery. Well known is the lower risk of TUR, the lower blood loss, the lower discomfort, the lower nursing in the postoperative period ect. There are not news in this study. But it is important, to recall some things, because it's more and more difficult, to classify an old man as an "inoperable case". Nobody knows, where he should stay. The family does not like him at home (his "dripping", his incontinence etc.) In the veterans house it's the same problem, and from the hospital he is removed, because he is an "inoperable case". The situation of this old man is very bad, because he feels there isn't a place for him and nobody likes him. Each man, also if it's the strongest one, will be broken psychically and physically after a short time. Concerning these aspects, must be enlarged the indication of removal the bladder neck obstruction per transurethral resection, more and more.