Prostatectomy in a district hospital.

In order to monitor the safety and efficacy of a new service for transurethral prostatectomy, an audit was performed, prospectively, over a period of 7.25 years. Of 304 prostatectomies performed, 91% were by transurethral prostatectomy. The proportion of patients with retention was 52%, 16% were uraemic and the incidence of carcinoma of the prostate was 21%. The operative mortality rate was 1.0%. An outline of the treatment policy and the data on complications and revision operations are presented. Comparisons are made with the experience of teaching centres and other district hospitals. Transurethral prostatectomy can be performed safely in the district general hospital and is a service which is essential to the smooth running of the surgical department.