ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of pretreatment with finasteride in decreasing intraoperative bleeding and irrigating fluid absorption during transurethral resection of prostate (TURP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty patients with benign prostate hypertrophy undergoing TURP were divided into two groups: 40 patients were pretreated with finasteride for 7 to 14 days before TURP and 40 patients without pretreatment. Absorption of irrigating fluid was quantified by analyzing the serum concentration of gentamycin. Intraoperative blood loss was calculated based on hemoglobin concentrations before and after operation.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The whole blood loss, hemoglobin concentration of irrigating fluid used, blood loss per minute, blood loss per gram tissue resected, whole irrigation absorption, irrigation absorption per minute and per gram tissue resected in patients pretreated with finasteride were significantly less than those in patients without pretreatment (P<0.05). The blood transfusion volume, the incidence of hypotension and hyponatremia in patients pretreated with finasteride were significantly less than those in patients without pretreatment (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Pretreatment with finasteride is of value in reducing intraoperative bleeding, irrigation absorption and perioperative complication during TURP.</p>