[Evaluation of blood loss and absorption of irrigating fluid in transurethral resection of the prostate].

A questionnaire was sent to all Danish departments performing transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) concerning the use of irrigating fluids and methods to estimate peroperative blood loss and absorption of irrigating fluid. Fifty-six of 60 departments used glycine as an irrigant. Seventeen percent of the departments measured blood loss peroperatively (HemoCue). Only two departments (3%) measured absorption of irrigating fluid quantitatively by the expired breath ethanol method. The other departments estimated blood loss and absorption of irrigant from the colour of the irrigating fluid. From studies of the literature we suggest the use of sorbitol/mannitol as irrigating fluid instead of glycine, as this may have fewer adverse effects, and we recommend quantitative measurements of blood loss and absorption of irrigating fluid to minimise the potentially dangerous consequences of TUR-P.