Abstract

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a major problem. Treatment should relieve symptoms and prevent progressive deterioration in upper and lower urinary tracts. The results of surgery are good. Symptomatically the result was either ‘very good’ or ‘improved’ in 97% of 998 patients who had a prostatectomy (804 transurethral resections, 194 open procedures).¹ The overall mortality is 1 – 3%. In recent years various hormone preparations have been tried, but in the trials reported clinical improvement was only marginal.²