Mental status after transurethral resection of the prostate.

We examined cognitive functions by means of a standardized mini-mental status (MMS) test before and 2 and 24 h after surgery in 100 patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). There was a strong correlation between the results of this test on all three occasions, but a transient deterioration in the MMS score occurred 2 h after TURP in two thirds of the patients. Fluid absorption was the factor most strongly associated with the change in MMS status during TURP, while the preoperative health status and the choice of anesthesia (general or spinal) had no influence.