To assess the safety, efficacy, and medium-term durability of bipolar plasmakinetic transurethral resection of the prostate (PK-TURP) for the treatment of bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia in a prospective study.

From March 2007 to May 2008, 132 consecutive patients underwent PK-TURP at our institution. All patients were assessed perioperatively and followed up at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months postoperatively. The parameters included the International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life scores, maximal urinary flow rates, transrectal ultrasonography, postvoid residual urine volume, and serum prostate-specific antigen level.

The mean patient age was 64.55 ± 4.03 years. The prostate volume was 79.66 ± 12.36 g. The operative time was 78.83 ± 17.41 minutes, and the resected weight was 58.12 ± 7.29 g. The catheterization time was 69.00 ± 17.99 hours, and the hospital stay was 117.00 ± 17.99 hours. The decrease in hemoglobin and sodium was 1.55 ± 0.48 g/dL and 1.57 ± 0.38 mmol/L, respectively. A significant improvement occurred in the maximal urinary flow rate (22.34 ± 3.1 mL/s), International Prostate Symptom Score (2.90 ± 1.60), and quality of life (1.12 ± 0.60) at the 3-year follow-up compared with baseline (P < .001). Of the 132 patients, 6 (4.5%) required reoperation.

PK-TURP represents an effective surgical intervention for the treatment of bladder outlet obstruction for large prostates. Furthermore, the functional results at 3 years demonstrated durability. Therefore, the PK-TURP technique could play an important role in the surgical treatment of patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia with a large prostate gland.