Comparison of Bipolar and Monopolar Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumours: A Randomised Clinical Study

Introduction: The standard treatment of Urinary Bladder Cancer (UBC) is Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumours (TURBT) commonly using a monopolar resection system. Bipolar-TURBT (B-TURBT) is associated with better haemostasis than Monopolar-TURBT (M-TURBT). Despite this, there exists controversy whether B-TURBT can completely replace M-TURBT.

Aim: To assess the perioperative outcomes of B-TURBT and compare it with the conventional monopolar system (M-TURBT).

Materials and Methods: The present randomised clinical study was conducted at the Department of Urology of SCB Medical College, Cuttack between January 2018 and January 2020. Fifty patients of either sex, aged >18 years with urinary bladder tumour size of ≤4 cm were included in the study. Patients were randomly assigned into B-TURBT and M-TURBT treatment groups. Demographic data (age and sex), morphology, location, shape, grade, stages of transitional cell carcinoma, degree of artifact were analysed and compared. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. The qualitative and quantitative variables between the groups were compared using independent sample t-test and chi-square test, respectively. A p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: A total of 50 patients with UBC were evaluated in this study where the majority of patients were male 45 (90.0%) with mean age 60.9 years. The most common morphologies were papillary tumour (28.0%), broad solid mass (22.0%), and papillary solitary (22.0%). Total 25 patients underwent M-TURBT and 25 patients underwent B-TURBT. Older patients (>55 years) had a higher rate of severe artifact compared to younger patients (<55 years). The B-TURBT had a significantly lower rate of artifact compared to M-TURBT (p-value <0.001). The need for secondary procedure was comparatively higher in M-TURBT than in bipolar resection (p-value=0.253). The obturator jerk and bladder perforation were not observed in this study.

Conclusion: The B-TURBT had a lower incidence of severe artifact and restaged TURBT as compared to M-TURBT. Thus, B-TURBT is a safer and more effective treatment for patients with UBC.