How is follow-up after transurethral prostatectomy best performed?

Prospective Evaluation of Interstitial Laser Coagulation of the Prostate: Importance of Surgical Technique and Patient Selection

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of improvements in surgical technique and patient selection on overall outcomes of interstitial laser coagulation (ILC) of the prostate and to describe our treatment algorithm.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

During a 4-year period, 66 men with bothersome lower urinary-tract symptoms underwent ILC of the prostate using the Indigo 830e Diode Laser System (Ethicon Endo-Surgery). Patients were assessed preoperatively and followed prospectively. Parameters included American Urological Association Symptoms Index, Quality of Life Scale, Problems Due to Symptoms Score, postvoiding residual volume, maximum flow rate, number of treatment punctures, and adverse events. One-year follow-up data were compared with baseline data using the Wilcoxon signed rank test or Fisher's exact test. Patients were stratified into those treated during the first 2 years (group 1) and those treated in the latest 2 years (group 2), corresponding to changes in surgical technique and patient selection.

RESULTS

Maximum flow rates improved by 47% and 85% in groups 1 and 2, respectively, at 12 months postoperatively compared with baseline (P = 0.04)l. The mean number of punctures differed significantly, with 6.4 in group 1 and 8.4 in group 2 (P = 0.03). Subjective measures were significantly improved from baseline in both groups and did not differ between groups. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Improvements in surgical technique and patient selection described herein corresponded to significantly higher maximum flow rates without an increase in adverse events.

Routine follow-up visits after first-trimester induced abortion

Routine follow-up visits after abortion are intended to confirm that the abortion is complete and to diagnose and treat complications. Many clinicians also take advantage of the follow-up visit to provide general reproductive health care: discussing contraceptive plans and providing family planning services; diagnosing sexually transmitted infections; performing a Pap test or discussing abnormal Pap results. We reviewed the evidence related to the routine postabortion follow-up visit. Other than mifepristone medical abortion performed at 50 days of gestation or later and methotrexate medical abortion, we found little evidence that mandatory follow-up visits typically detect conditions that women themselves could not be taught to recognize. In addition, the natural history of the most severe complications after abortion-infection and unrecognized ectopic pregnancy-have time courses inconsistent with the usual timing of the follow-up visit. Costs associated with this visit can be great. These include travel expenses, lost wages, child-care expenses, privacy and emotional burdens for women, and scheduling disruptions and the related opportunity costs caused by "no-shows" for the provider. Follow-up appointments should be scheduled for those women likely to benefit from a physical examination. For the remainder of women, simple instructions and advice about detecting complications, possibly coupled with telephone follow-up, might suffice. Although arguably valuable in their own right, counseling, family planning services, or sexually transmitted infection diagnosis and treatment should not be so inflexibly bundled with postabortion care. Protocols that require in-person follow-up after abortion may not make the best use of a women's time or abilities, or of the medical system.