Prostate Surgery Update

Only surgery produces improvement in symptoms among patients with enlarged prostate glands.
The Los Angeles Times (5/29, Maugh) reported, "Medications, laser treatment, and surgery can all arrest the growth of an enlarged prostate gland, but only surgery can produce an improvement in symptoms, particularly a reduction in incontinence," Mayo Clinic researchers asserted. In fact, "'only the surgical intervention group reported a decrease in incontinence,' from 64.5% to 41.9%." Indeed, "transurethral resection of the prostate, or TURP, is generally reserved for those who have failed to respond to drug treatment or who cannot tolerate the medications." But findings presented during the American Urological Association's annual meeting also indicate that "it might be useful to introduce it earlier in the course of the disease."