Is the ability to perform transurethral resection of the prostate influenced by the surgeons previous experience?
PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of the urologist’s experience on the surgical results and complications of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate without the use of a video camera were randomly allocated into three groups according to the urologist’s experience: a urologist having done 25 transurethral resections of the prostate (Group I – 24 patients); a urologist having done 50 transurethral resections of the prostate (Group II – 24 patients); a senior urologist with vast transurethral resection of the prostate experience (Group III – 19 patients). The following were recorded: the weight of resected tissue, the duration of the resection procedure, the volume of irrigation used, the amount of irrigation absorbed and the hemoglobin and sodium levels in the serum during the procedure. RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups in the amount of irrigation fluid used per op
