The Effect of Prostatic Surgery on the Acid Phosphatase Level

Abstract

An account of the effect of prostatic surgery on the serum acid phosphatase level is given. The material consisted of 51 male patients hospitalized for prostatic disorders. Forty of them were subjected to transvesical prostatectomy, while 11 underwent transurethral resection. Patients subjected to transvesical postatectomy showed a pronounced incerase in acid phosphatase, while no significant increase could be found in patients who underwent transurethral resection. In the transvesical group, a few of the glands had to be removed in pieces. In this group, a prolonged increase in acid phosphatase was observed, possibly indicating residual prostatic tissue other than that in the surgical capsule. Assaying serum acid phosphatase at intervals during the first 24 postoperative hours should be of value in judging the result of a transvesical prostatectomy.