How did the endoscopic video camera change our practice in transurethral resection of the prostate?
PURPOSE: Video camera-assisted transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is an invaluable teaching tool and provides physical comfort to the surgeon. However, whether it improves technical skills and reduces complications rates and hospital stay has not been well documented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 100 cases of video camera-assisted (VCA) TURP and 100 cases of non-video camera-assisted (NVCA) TURP randomly chosen from 1490 cases performed over a 5-year period. The patients’ mean age was similar in the two groups (70 years in the NVCA group and 71 years in the VCA group). RESULTS: The mean weight of prostatic chips was 33.2 g in the VCA and 19.02 g in the NVCA group (P < 0.05). The mean operative time was identical in the two groups (VCA 41 minutes and NVCA 42.2 minutes). The mean postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the VCA group than in the NVCA group (1.56 and 3.39 days, respectively) (P < 0.05), as was the urinary drainage time (1.68 and 4.04 day
