[Open surgery of elderly patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy].

Thirty three patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) over age 80 who had undergone an open prostatectomy at our ward in the period of January of 1968-December of 1987 (20 years), were retrospectively studied for their complications before, during, or after the operation and prognosis. Preoperative complications were observed at a very high rate. When these complications may influence the prognosis, prudent care is required. The incidence of complications during or after the operation seemed also to be slightly high. This is probably because the number of patients with recurring urinary retention or those who had received cystostomy before the operation were relatively high among the elderly people. In such cases especially prudent care is required, for the prognosis may be poor. About 88% of the patients felt better post-operatively and had a good prognosis. In addition, there was no indication of the operation shortening their life. Consequently, an open prostatectomy was considered to be useful for elderly patients.