Effectiveness of Transurethral Resection of the Prostate in Managing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Enhancing Quality of Life: A Prospective South Indian Study

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-malignant enlargement of the prostate in elderly men, commonly causing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that significantly impair quality of life (QoL). Although laser enucleation techniques are increasingly adopted, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) remains a widely used standard treatment. This study evaluates the clinical effectiveness of TURP in alleviating LUTS and enhancing QoL. A prospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in South India from March to August 2024. Fifty male patients aged 45-85 years, diagnosed with BPH, underwent TURP. Symptom severity and functional outcomes were assessed using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Index of Quality of Life (IQL) score, post-void residual (PVR) urine, and uroflowmetry preoperatively and at four, eight, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Data were analysed using paired-sample t-tests. The mean patient age was 60.7 years. Baseline IPSS was 25.1 ± 6.8, and IQL was 4.5 ± 0.9. Postoperatively, IPSS improved significantly to 16.5 ± 4.5 at four weeks and 5.8 ± 3.0 at 12 weeks. IQL remained at 4.5 ± 1.0 at four weeks but significantly improved to 1.1 ± 0.9 by 12 weeks. PVR and uroflowmetry values also showed statistically significant improvement (p < 0.001). TURP offers substantial early and sustained relief from LUTS and significantly enhances QoL in patients with moderate to severe BPH, maintaining its relevance despite the growing use of laser techniques.