Double-blind randomized study of symptoms associated with absorption of glycine 1.5% or mannitol 3% during transurethral resection of the prostate.

Abstract

We studied which irrigating fluid, glycine 1.5% or mannitol 3%, is associated with the most favorable adverse effects profile when absorbed by the patient during transurethral resection of the prostate. Irrigating fluid bags containing mannitol 3% or glycine 1.5%, both with added ethanol 1% as an indicator of fluid absorption, were used in a randomized double-blind fashion during 394 transurethral prostatic resections. The incidence of 13 symptoms was studied in 52 patients (13%) who absorbed more than 500 ml. fluid. The incidence of circulatory symptoms did not differ between the fluids but the risk of neurological symptoms, such as nausea, after transurethral prostatic resection was 4.8 times higher when glycine 1.5% was absorbed (p <0.04). An increase of 1,000 ml. in the volume of irrigant absorbed increased the overall risk for circulatory symptoms by a factor of 3.4 (p <0.03) and the risk of neurological symptoms by a factor of 4.4 (p <0.02). Absorption of mannitol 3% during transurethral prostatic resection is associated with fewer neurological symptoms than glycine 1.5%.