Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate as a Predictor of Success of Trial of Voiding Without Catheter After Transurethral Electrosurgical Resection of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Abstract

Introduction: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) is an acute phase reactant and an indirect measure of inflammation inside the body. Transurethral electrosurgical Resection of the Prostate (TURP) is the current gold standard for management of patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) with moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms. The success of operation is determined when after resection of the prostate following removal of indwelling Foley catheter several days postoperative, the patient is able to void freely without catheter. It is not mentioned whether the edema of the postoperative site or the persistent inflammation of the prostate after resection may cause the failure of trial of voiding without catheter (TWOC).

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to determine if ESR can be a reliable predictor of success of in patients who underwent TURP for BPH. Methods: On the day of planned catheter removal, 4 milliliters of blood was extracted from the patient, placed in an Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tube and sent to laboratory for ESR determination.One milliliter of EDTA-anticoagulated blood was placed in the Westergren tube. After 60 minutes, measurements were taken of the distance the red cells traveled to settle at the bottom of the tube. After catheter removal, patients were observed whether they can void freely without catheter or not. Patients who were not able to void within 4 to 6 hours were re-catheterized.

Results: From January 2015 to April 2016, 135 patients with BPH who underwent TURP in East Avenue Medical Center were included in the analysis. Success of trial voiding without catheter was observed in 117 of 135 patients (87%; p=0.000). Patients ages varied from 49 to 80 years, overall. Among these patients, the average ESR was significantly lower (48 mm versus 56 mm, range = 17-109 mm; p=0.012). Presence of urinary retention (61%), history of cigarette smoking (56%), hypertension (61%), diabetes mellitus (50%), trabeculations in cystoscopy and prostate size less than 20 grams (17%) were more common among patients with unsuccessful TWOC. ESR (p=0.012) was an independent significant predictor of TWOC. Based on univariate analysis, Diabetes Mellitus (DM) (p=0.003), trabeculations in cystoscopy (p=0.000) and UTI (p=0.000) were also significantly associated with TWOC. Among the significant independent covariates, DM was a significant factor affecting the success rate of TWOC (p=0.005) based on multivariate analysis. Patients without DM were about 16 times more likely to have a successful TWOC (OR=15.750, 95% CI=2.335, 106.227).

Conclusion: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate was significantly lower in patients with success of trial voiding without catheter. ESR is a reliable predictor of success of TWOC in patients who underwent TURP for BPH.