Excessive absorption of fluid used in trans-urethral prostate resection may lead to transurethral resection (TUR) Syndrome. We aimed to make a comparison between blood and end-expiratory ethanol concentrations and volumes of absorbed irrigant fluid during TUR-P operations.

One hundered ASA I-III patients, aged between 50-80 (mean 68.70 ± 7.06 SD) years who underwent TUR-P under epidural anesthesia were enrolled into the study. Irrigation fluid used in the operations contained 1% ethanol and 5% mannitol. End-expiratory, blood ethanol concentrations and hemodynamic parameters of the patients were measured. Data were analysed with paired-t test, correlation and linear regression tests. p<0.05 was accepted significant.

During surgical procedures, end-expiratory and serum ethanol concentrations were incrased significantly (p<0.05). End-expiratory ethanol concentration was correlated positively with blood ethanol levels (r=0.97, p<0.05) and absorption fluid level (r=0.89, p<0.05 ). Vital signs of the patients were normal in intra-operative and first 24 hours of post-operative periods. Neither any TUR syndrome case nor any side effects of ethanol-labeled irrigation fluid were observed during the study period.

In conclusion, during TUR-P, ethanol added irrigation fluid usage and observation of absorbed irrigant due to expiratory measured ethanol concentrations is simple, non-invasive, and correlated with blood ethanol values.