The psychosocial adjustment and general state of health were investigated in 66 patients (40 males, 26 females) who had been subjected to an ileal conduit urinary diversion on account of bladder cancer (44 patients) or incontinence or bladder dysfunction (22 patients). Seventy per cent of the patients reported unchanged, overall, social activity (OSA) after the operation. Twenty per cent reported less and 10% more activity. Bladder-cancer patients were more likely to curtail their social activities compared with the patients with incontinence or bladder dysfunction. Appliance-related problems were mentioned by half of the patients who reported decreased OSA. One-third of the patients considered accidental leakage or fear of such leakage as the most negative aspect of surgery. Factors related to an altered body image were the most common negative aspect reported by females. Despite psychosocial problems, the majority of the patients (80%) considered their health to be good. Males, individuals working full-time and patients with unchanged OSA scored higher on a Health Index, i.e. considered themselves healthier than the rest of the patients.

and after surgery was measured using a photometer. Other variables compared included indices of resection speed and transfusion rate. RESULTSThere were no statistically significant differences in operative duration, resection weight, resection speed or radicality of resection. However, the median blood loss was 235 mL for the bipolar and 350 mL for monopolar TURP ( P < 0.001). The decrease in blood haemoglobin concentration during the day of surgery was smaller in the bipolar group (5.5% vs 9.6% P < 0.001). Fewer patients were transfused with erythrocytes (4% vs 11%, P < 0.01), which can be explained by the much lower 75th percentile for blood loss in the bipolar group (at 472 vs 855 mL, respectively). CONCLUSIONSBipolar TURP using the TURis system was performed with the same speed as monopolar TURP but caused 34% less bleeding, the difference being greatest (81%) for the largest blood losses. Bipolar TURP also required fewer erythrocyte transfusions than the conventional monopolar technique.

We investigated the value of digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasonography and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) analysis as aids in general clinical practice and in the early detection of prostate cancer. Of a randomly selected population of 2,400 men 55 to 70 years old who were offered examination with digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasound and PSA analysis, 1,782 (74%) accepted and prostate cancer was detected in 65 (3.6%). When the transrectal ultrasound results were also considered the detection rate of digital rectal examination (2.3%) was increased by 50% and the number of stage T2A or less tumors was doubled. At reexamination due to markedly high PSA values (7 micrograms/l. or more) only a few additional cancers (5%) were detected. However, it is noteworthy that 80% of the detected cancers were found among the subgroup with abnormal PSA values (4 micrograms/l. or more) and comprising 17% of the study population, which suggests the possibility of selecting a risk group at mass screening. Moreover, the positive predictive value increased from 4% (when only digital rectal examination was positive) to 71% for the combination of positive digital rectal examination, positive transrectal ultrasound and an increased PSA concentration (that is 7 micrograms/l. or greater).