Glucose as a marker of fluid absorption in bipolar transurethral surgery

Measurement of Procedure-Specific Irrigation-Fluid Absorption in Transurethral Therapy of Lower Urinary Tract Syndrome, Using Ethanolic Saline and Breath Alcometry

INTRODUCTION

Transurethral resection risks excessive absorption of irrigating fluid with potentially severe or life-threatening consequences. We determined the amount of absorbed saline irrigation fluid during photoselective vaporisation of the prostate (PVP) and bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (bTURP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients at our institution treated by one of these methods were monitored by the alcometric method: ethanol is added to the irrigation fluid and blood alcohol is measured with a breathalyser. Various possible correlations were investigated.

RESULTS

Data from 71 patients (36 PVP, 35 bTURP) were analysed. Detection of any absorption was more frequent under bTURP (71% of patients) than under PVP (39%; p = 0.006). Absorption in the volume range 500-1,000 ml was conspicuously more frequent in the bTURP procedure than in PVP.

CONCLUSIONS

Presence of absorption was more frequent under bTURP than under PVP. However, high-volume absorption was more frequent during bTURP than in PVP.

Fluid absorption and the ethanol monitoring method

BACKGROUND

Fluid absorption is a well-known complication of endoscopic surgeries, such as transurethral prostatic resection and transcervical endometrial resection. Absorption of electrolyte-free fluid in excess of 1 L, which occurs in 5% to 10% of the operations, markedly increases the risk of adverse effects from the cardiovascular and neurological systems. Absorption of isotonic saline, which is used with the new bipolar resection technique, will change the scenario of adverse effects in a yet unknown way. Hyponatremia no longer occurs, but marking the saline with ethanol reveals that fluid absorption occurs just as much as with monopolar prostate resections.

METHODS

Ethanol monitoring is a method for non-invasive indication and quantification of fluid absorption that has been well evaluated. By using an irrigating fluid that contains 1% of ethanol, updated information about fluid absorption can be obtained at any time perioperatively by letting the patient breathe into a hand-held alcolmeter.

RESULTS

Regression equations and nomograms with variable complexity are available for estimating how much fluid has been absorbed, both when the alcolmeter is calibrated to show the blood ethanol level and when it is calibrated to show the breath ethanol concentration. Examples of how such estimations should be performed are given in this review article.

CONCLUSIONS

The difficulty is that the anesthesiologist must be aware of how the alcolmeter is calibrated (for blood or breath) and be able to distinguish between the intravascular and extravascular absorption routes, which give rise to different patterns and levels of breath ethanol concentrations.

Glycine 1.5% for irrigation should be abandoned

BACKGROUND

Glycine 1.5% has long maintained a dominating role as an irrigating solution for monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), as well as for certain other transurethral procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This review summarizes the findings of systematic experimental and clinical studies in which glycine 1.5% for irrigation was infused/absorbed and the outcome compared to at least one other irrigating fluid, including the isotonic saline used for bipolar TURP.

RESULTS

There were 11 studies in animals, 3 in volunteers and 6 in patients undergoing TURP. With only one exception, which is probably due to low power, these studies either show a poorer outcome after administration or absorption of glycine solution or else that glycine 2.2% is more toxic than glycine 1.5%. The poorer outcomes consisted of more tissue damage or higher mortality (animals) or more symptoms (volunteers and patients).

CONCLUSION

The safety of monopolar TURP would be improved by replacing glycine 1.5% with some other electrolyte-free fluid. The author argues that glycine 1.5% should be abandoned completely.

Fluid extravasation caused by bladder perforation during bipolar transurethral resection using saline solution -a case report-

Transurethral resection of the prostate is the gold standard in the operative management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate using saline solution is a safe technique and reduces the risk of transurethral resection syndrome. This report discusses a rare complication of bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate: the extravasation of 0.9% saline solution into intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal cavities due to bladder perforation, resulting in respiratory difficulties.

An overview of prostate diseases and their characteristics specific to Asian men

In this paper, we reviewed the features of common prostate diseases, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer (PCa) and chronic prostatitis (CP) that are specific to Asian men. Compared to the Westerners, Asians exhibit particular characteristics of prostate diseases. Through summarizing the epidemiology, symptomatology, diagnostics and therapeutics of these diseases, we find that Asians have a lower incidence of PCa than whites, but the incidences of BPH and CP are similar. Asian men with CP often suffer from fewer disease sites, but have a higher frequency of pain during urination rather than after sexual climax. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a widely used marker for the diagnosis of PCa in both Asian and Western countries. Although the PSA level may be lower in Asians, the threshold used is based on whites. After reviewing the treatments available for these diseases, we did not find a fundamental difference between Asians and whites. Furthermore, the selection for the most appropriate treatment based on the individual needs of patients remains a challenge to urologists in Asia. After considering the traits of prostate diseases that are specific to Asian men, we hope to pave the way for the development of specific diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeted specifically to Asian men.