Irrigation or no irrigation after transurethral prostatectomy?

• Published in: British journal of urology Vol. 70; no. 5; p. 526
• Main Authors: Britton, J P, Fletcher, M S, Harrison, N W, Royle, M G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-11-1992
• Subjects: Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Postoperative Care; Prospective Studies; Prostatectomy; Therapeutic Irrigation; Urinary Catheterization
• ISSN: 0007-1331
• DOI: 10.1111/bju.1992.70.5.526

Urologists remain divided as to the need for routine irrigation following transurethral prostatectomy (TURP). This randomised prospective study compared a policy of irrigation with that of no irrigation in a consecutive group of 200 patients undergoing TURP. In the irrigation group, a mean of 15 litres of irrigating fluid was used in each patient and one-third of patients required at least one bladder washout. In the no irrigation group, although two-thirds of the patients required at least one bladder washout, only one-third required more than one washout. No significant difference in blood loss, electrolyte balance, infection rate or recovery was seen in the 2 groups. This study led to a local change in practice, converting from a policy of routine irrigation to one of no irrigation.