Abstract
A prospective study was undertaken to examine differences in haemoglobin concentration and serum electrolytes in two patient groups undergoing surgical treatment for benign prostatic obstruction. Group one underwent conventional transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), and group two were treated by laser ablation of the prostate (LAP). Twenty-six patients were enrolled in LAP group, 25 in the TURP group. Both patient groups had the procedure performed under epidural anaesthesia. Serial measurements of haemoglobin and sodium were performed at three time intervals: immediately preoperatively, in the recovery room and 24 hours postoperatively. A fall in serum sodium levels between the mean preoperative reading (140 mmol/l) and 24 hours post surgery (138 mmol/l) was the only statistically significant alteration sustained in the laser patients (P<0.0001). A fall in haemoglobin from preoperative measurement to recovery room measurement of 0.71 g/l was statistically significant (P<0.0001), but did not persist to the 24 hour postoperative time period. The TURP group demonstrated statistically significant falls in both sodium and haemoglobin levels at both postsurgery measurements. Mean serum sodium levels fell from 141 mmol/l preoperatively to 138 mmol/l (P<0.0001) in the recovery room and 137 mmol/l (P<0.0001) at 24 hours. Preoperative haemoglobin fell from 14.8 g/l to 13.6 g/l (P<0.0001) in recovery and 13.7 g/l (P<0.0001) at 24 hours.