Sequential transurethral resection of the prostate and laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy: Comparison with open surgery

Objectives. To compare our experience with transurethral resection of the prostate and sequential laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy with a previous series of combined open bladder diverticulectomy and transvesical prostatectomy. Methods. We compared the data of 10 consecutive patients (group 1) who underwent sequential transurethral resection of the prostate and transperitoneal laparoscopic bladder diverticulectomy and 13 consecutive patients (group 2) who underwent traditional combined open bladder diverticulectomy and transvesical prostatectomy. The following parameters were considered: size and position of the diverticulum, transrectal ultrasound adenoma volume, operative time, postoperative hemoglobin variations, analgesic requirement, complications, postoperative hospital stay, and urinary flowmetry. Results. No statistically significant differences existed between the two groups either for diverticulum size (6.8 versus 7.2 cm) or diverticula position. A significant difference was observed in the operative time (247 minutes for group I versus 136 minutes for group 2, P <0.0001), mean postoperative hemoglobin decrease (2.6 g/dL for group 1 and 3.9 g/dL for group 2, P = 0.001), analgesic requirement (1.3 ampoules of buprenorphine cloritrate for group 1 versus 1.8 ampoules for group 2, P = 0.45), and postoperative hospital stay (3 days for group 1 versus 9.6 days for group 2, P <0.0001). No statistically significant difference was recorded for control flowmetry. No intraoperative complications were recorded for the two groups. Conclusions. In our series, sequential transurethral resection of the prostate and transperitoneal laparoscopic diverticulectomy for large diverticula proved to be a safe, effective, and minimally invasive procedure, despite the longer operative times compared with transvesical prostatectomy and open bladder diverticulectomy. (C) 2002, Elsevier Science Inc.