Video transurethral resection using controlled continuous flow resectoscope.

A video camera, attached by direct-beam coupler to the controlled continuous flow (CCF) resectoscope, is used to aid in the performance of transurethral resection (TUR). A television monitor becomes the source for judgment in guiding the resectoscope loop. The surgeon stands during the TUR to watch the image from the resectoscope lens, as projected on the video monitor screen, to decide where to cut tissue and fulgurate blood vessels. Fifty cases of transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) performed by the video method with the CCF resectoscope are compared with 400 TURP cases performed by the conventional method of looking through the scope using the same instrument. Resulting data from the video method were statistically similar to that obtained from the conventional method. The video method was a safe and effective means of visualizing the surgical field during TURP.