Bipolar versus monopolar technique for palliative transurethral prostate resection (2 patients), moderately differentiated in 18% (11 patients) and poorly differentiated in 79% (49 patients). While 38% of the patients had a high grade tumour at diagnosis, 79% were found to have high grade prostate cancer at the time of the resection. Postoperative PSA analysis 3 months after sur- gery increased from a mean value of 50.72 ng/ml before the surgery to a mean of 93.40 ng/ml in the conventional monopolar group (Table III) (p = 0.372). Over the same period in the bipolar group, there was a PSA decline after surgery from 128.16 ng/ml to 71.92 ng/ml (p = 0.350). Discussion Urinary retention is a common complication in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer, with an incidence of 13% to 20% [6-7]. The first step is usually initiation of hormone deprivation treatment in combination with an indwelling catheter [8]. Table V. Anaesthesia Variables Spinal anaesthesia General anaesthesia Monopolar TURP, N (%) 32 (91) 3 (9) Bipolar TURIS, N (%) 32 (78) 9 (22) TURP – transurethral resection of prostate, TURIS – transurethral resection of prostate in saline, N – number Table VI. Summary of laboratory results Ultrasonic volume determinations in patients with prostate cancer treated by hormonal deprivation therapy showed a 50% reduction of the gland size in the first month [9], continuing for nine months after orchiectomy. Fleischmann and Catalona reported a 68% response rate after hormonal treatment for urinary retention in 35 patients with advanced prostate cancer [10]. Unfortunately, an indwelling catheter was necessary for 21 to 60 days in 46% of the patients. Thomas et al. achieved an 83% success rate in 12 patients after 1 month [8]. Hormonal deprivation therapy is not limited to orchiectomy. Varenhorst and Alund were successful in relieving urethral obstruction by carcinoma of the prostate in 65% of patients treated by orchiectomy, cyproterone acetate, or oestrogens [11]. Hormonally deprived patients with acute or persisting urinary retention are initially helped with a transurethral or suprapubic bladder catheter. Since long-term catheter drainage is hazardous, patients who are fit for surgery are considered ideal candidates for a palliative endoscopic prostate resection. In this study, all patients were already on hormone deprivation therapy when the urinary retention occurred. Palliative or channel TUR has the advantage of enabling restored micturition but is not free from complications such as stress incontinence and rapid regrowth of obstructive prostate cancer requiring Preoperation, mean (± SD) Postoperation, mean (± SD) Difference Variables Monopolar TURP Haemoglobin [mg/dl] Sodium [mmol/l] Potassium [mmol/l] Chloride [mmol/l] Bipolar TURIS Haemoglobin [mg/dl] Sodium [mmol/l] Potassium [mmol/l] Chloride [mmol/l] Variables Haemoglobin [mg/dl] Sodium [mmol/l] Potassium [mmol/l] Chloride [mmol/l] 13.1 (±1.9) 140.9 (±3.2) 4.2 (±0.5) 104.7 (±3.1) 12.8 (±2.0) 141.9 (±3.0) 4.1 (±0.4) 105.1 (±2.9) Monopolar TURP mean (± SD) –1.2 (±0.9) –1.7 (±3.1) –0.1 (±0.4) 0.5 (±2.7) Bipolar TURIS mean (± SD) –1.3 (±1.3) –1.9 (±2.6) –0.1 (±0.3) 0.4 (±2.5) 11.9 (±1.7) 139.2 (±2.7) 4.1 (±0.4) 105.1 (±3.2) 11.6 (±2.1) 140.0 (±2.9) 4.0 (±0.4) 105.5 (±2.9) 0.606 0.802 0.331 0.895 –1.2 –1.7 –0.1 +0.5 –1.3 –1.9 –0.1 +0.4 (–0.629, 0.369) (–1.491, 1.156) (–0.086, 0.252) (–1.288, 1.127) TURP – transurethral resection of prostate, TURIS – transurethral resection of prostate in saline, SD – standard deviation Table VII. Chemical and haematological parameters p-value 95% confidence interval TURP – transurethral resection of prostate, TURIS – transurethral resection of prostate in saline, SD – standard deviation Arch Med Sci 5, October / 2010 783