Use of 5% dextrose as irrigation fluid in transurethral resection of the prostate—Any deleterious effects on blood sugar levels?: A case-controlled study

Abstract

Background: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is increasingly performed in Nigeria. The irrigation fluid commonly used is 5% dextrose water, which is second only to water in terms of availability and affordability. Although it has the advantage of lower incidence of intravascular hemolysis, there are concerns regarding its potential deleterious effects when absorbed into the bloodstream, especially for diabetic or glucose-intolerant individuals. Objective: This study aims to determine the effect of the use of 5% dextrose water as irrigation fluid for TURP on the blood sugar level. Materials and Methods: This was a case-controlled study of 108 patients who underwent TURP for benign prostatic hypertrophy at the 82 Division Hospital of the Nigeria Army, Enugu, Nigeria, between 2016 and 2022. The case group (n = 80) had TURP with 5% dextrose water as irrigation fluid, while the control group (n = 28) underwent the traditional transvesical prostatectomy (TVP). In both groups, an equal volume of normal saline was used for preloading for spinal anesthesia and for maintenance during surgery. Results: After 2 h from the onset of surgery, the mean preoperative blood sugar levels and the mean 2 h blood sugar levels were 95.61 and 112.99 mg/dL, respectively, for the TURP group and 100.43 and 106.61 mg/dL, respectively, for the TVP group (P = 0.122 and 0.308, respectively). Conclusion: TURP utilizing 5% dextrose water as “irrigant” did not show a significant increase in blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is considered a safe irrigation fluid in the study population.

Keywords

• benign prostate hyperplasia
• changes in blood sugar levels
• transurethral resection of prostate
• transvesical prostatectomy