Finasteride to Reduce Bleeding in Transurethral Resection of the Prostate in Patients with Foley Catheter

The study investigated the use of finasteride, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, in reducing intraoperative bleeding during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in patients with a Foley catheter for over a month. Involving 80 patients divided into two groups, the experimental group received 5 mg of finasteride daily for one month before surgery. Results showed that the finasteride group experienced significantly less bleeding (180.00 ± 91.14 mL) compared to the control group (286.25 ± 100.63 mL), with reduced need for blood transfusions and shorter hospital stays, as 90% were discharged after one day. The study concluded that preoperative finasteride effectively reduced bleeding during TURP, likely by decreasing prostatic tissue neovascularization, and recommended its use for patients undergoing TURP, especially those with long-term Foley catheters, due to its cost-benefit advantage in reducing surgical morbidity.