In a prospective, randomized study 21 patients with
prostatism caused by small prostates (estimated weight less than 20 gram) had a
transurethral prostatectomy (
TURP), and 17 patients a transurethral incision of the prostate (TUI). In the TUI group operation time and blood loss was significantly less than in the
TURP group, while there was no intergroup difference in postoperative
fever greater than 38 degrees C,
antibiotic treatment, number of days with
indwelling catheter or days of hospitalization after surgery. Three patients in the TUI group had repeated surgery. In the
TURP group one patient underwent reoperation and one was discharged with a permanent
indwelling catheter. Thirty-three patients had a follow-up of 3 months. Both
surgical procedures significantly improved symptoms and maximum flow rates, and there was no intergroup difference of the surgical outcome. Forty-five per cent in the
TURP group developed
retrograde ejaculation versus none in the TUI group. In this preliminary report TUI was as effective as
TURP in relieving
bladder outlet obstruction caused by small prostates.