Transurethral Resection of the Prostate-Like Syndrome After Double-J Replacement in a Patient with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: Case Report

Background: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) syndrome is a rare, but extremely dangerous complication. We present an even rarer case of a spinal cord injured patient who developed "TURP-like syndrome" after cystoscopy with Double-J replacement, under general anesthesia. Case Presentation: A 39-year-old man, American Society of Anesthesiologists III, tetraplegic, was scheduled for cystoscopy with bilateral Double-J replacement. Preoperative values of serum sodium were 133 mmol/L and potassium 5 mmol/L. To prevent autonomic dysreflexia, we performed general anesthesia. During cystoscopy, 0.9% NaCl irrigating fluid reservoir was fixed 50 cm above patient level and pressure was applied at urologist's request. The balance between inflow and outflow of irrigation fluids showed no significant difference. Procedure lasted 25 minutes, without any complications. Patient was transferred, awake, to postanesthesia care unit and discharged 1 hour later to the ward. Four hours later, patient referred nausea, headache, and abdominal pain. Acetaminophen and ondansetron were administered. Arterial blood gas sample revealed metabolic acidosis, hyponatremia, and hyperkalemia. A fluid resorption syndrome was assumed, furosemide was given, 0.9% NaCl was loaded, followed by 3% NaCl, and 1.4% NaHCO3 for metabolic acidosis. A 5% glucose solution with 10 U insulin was started for hyperkalemia correction. In 24 hours, patient's clinical state improved and serum sodium and potassium values returned to baseline levels. A week after surgery, patient was discharged home, without neurologic damage. Conclusion: Excessive absorption of irrigation fluids during cystoscopy may occur and manifestations may be delayed in up to 24 hours postoperatively. Anesthesiologists and urologists must be aware of this life-threatening situation. Preventive measures, rapid detection, and treatment are imperative and may prevent complications and, ultimately, death.