Electrosurgical enucleation versus bipolar transurethral resection for prostates larger than 70 ml: A prospective, randomized trial with 5-year followup

Purpose: We compared the perioperative and postoperative characteristics of prostate PlasmaKinetic™ enucleation and bipolar transurethral resection for large volume benign prostatic hyperplasia. Materials and Methods: In this prospective, randomized, controlled trial 80 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and a prostate of larger than 70 ml were randomly assigned to prostate bipolar transurethral resection or PlasmaKinetic enucleation. Operative time, resected adenoma weight, changes in hemoglobin, catheterization time and postoperative hospital stay were recorded and compared. Patients were followed 1, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months after surgery. Results: Greater resected prostate weight (mean ± SD 64.2 ± 19.0 vs 50.6 ± 20.0 gm, p = 0.03), less blood loss (mean 0.87 ± 0.42 vs 1.74 ± 0.63 gm, p <0.01), and shorter catheterization time (mean 35.5 ± 5.8 vs 60.1 ± 5.8 hours, p <0.01) and postoperative hospital stay (mean 3.2 ± 0.9 vs 4.4 ± 1.1 days, p <0.01) were recorded in the enucleation group than in the resection group. The postoperative improvement in International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life, maximal flow rate and post-void residual urine volume was similar in the 2 groups at 1, 6, 12 and 24 months but significantly better in the enucleation group at 36, 48 and 60 months. During the 5-year followup no patient in the enucleation group but 2 in the resection group experienced recurrence. Conclusions: For large volume benign prostatic hyperplasia PlasmaKinetic enucleation of the prostate is associated with less blood loss, shorter hospital stay and catheterization time than bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate. Moreover, PlasmaKinetic enucleation seems to be superior at long-term followup with fewer reoperations necessary.