EJACULATION PRESERVING TRANS URETHRAL RESECTION OF PROSTATE (epTURP): AN INITIAL STUDY

A short term prospective study was conducted on 10 patients (age range 55-65 years and sexually active) undergoing the ejaculation preserving Trans Urethral Resection of Prostate (epTURP). They were evaluated for preservation of antegrade ejaculation along with the functional outcome of this technique after 3 months. In this study, 7/10 (70%) patients reported preservation of ejaculation at 3 months, although their score (Question no 9 of the International Index of Erectile Function) was slightly low as compared to preoperative status. There were significant improvements observed in LUTS i.e. Uroflowmetry parameters at 3 months. Voiding symptoms (IPSS and Life Quality Index) were also significantly reduced (mean difference of 13.5 and 2.3, respectively). No serious adverse events were reported. Therefore, in this short term study, it appears that epTURP preserves antegrade ejaculation whilst other symptomatic and functional outcomes remain similar. Indwelling catheter in the preoperative course adversely affects ejaculatory function. However the main limitations of this study is that it has a small number and also has a short follow up of only 3 months where the patient has still not resumed his sexual activity in “full swing” not only in terms of number of sexual encounters but also psychologically. Presumably many of these patients would improve over a period of time and the results would be then comparable to the other published series. Keywords: Ejaculation, Trans Urethral Resection, Prostate