Scottish Prostates: a 6-Year Review

Abstract

A review of all prostatectomies performed by urologists in Scotland during 1969-1974 is presented. Factors influencing the mortality rate are discussed and the steady increase in low-mortality (1.4%) transurethral prostatectomy noted.

Prostatectomy Trends in the Bristol Area

“…There was a rise in the annual number of prostatectomies performed in the mid-1970s which was not continued (Table 1). The age of patients being operated on did not significantly alter (mean was 70.3 years) and is comparable with that in other series (Ashley et al, 1971;Graham, 1977). The male population of the area remained steady ( Table 2), although there was a slight rise in the proportion of those over 65 years of age.…”

“…Fewer TURs were undertaken in emergency than in elective cases.In 1968 it was estimated that a 40-year-old man had a 10% chance of requiring a prostatectomy for benign hypertrophy before reaching the age of 80, if he lived that long (Lytton et al, 1968). Since then, the demand for prostatectomy has increased (Graham, 1977). Improved surgical and anaesthetic techniques, together with an increasing reluctance to delay surgical treatment in the elderly, have contributed to this.…”

Changing Patterns of Prostatectomy in Scotland: 1971-1989

“…Table 1. Relative increase in total annual number of prostatec- [3], The preference for TURP over OP may be related to factors other than the lower peri-operative mortality and morbidity mentioned by Graham [4], Analysis of the Scottish patients included in the present study showed that a diagnosis of prostate or bladder cancer in the 3…”

“…Graham [4] reported some statistics on prostatecto mies performed by urologists in Scotland during the 6-year period [1969][1970][1971][1972][1973][1974]. During the first 4 years of his review, the total annual number of operations increased by 59%, and there was an increase in the percentage of patients over 65 years (from 65 to 72%).…”

“…During the first 4 years, there was a steady increase in both TURP and OP, but thereafter the proportion of OP decreased sharply, while TURP increased. Graham [4] mentioned the 'ob vious attractions of a lower mortality rate and a shorter stay in hospital' as reasons for the increasingly wider acceptance of TURP by urologists.…”