Posterior Urethral Valve Resection: Comparison of Use of Cold Knife with that of Hot Knife

Abstract

Objective: To compare the results of valve resection surgery by use of cold knife with those of
hot knife.
Material and Methods: Medical record of consecutive 28 patients, who underwent
transurethral resection (TUR) of posterior urethral valve (PUV) was searched and patients were
placed in two groups; those who underwent TUR with diathermy hook electrode (hot knife) were
placed in one group (hot knife group) and those in whom cold knife was used for TUR were placed
in the other group (cold knife group). Evaluation was done by comparing the time taken for
resection, presence or absence of bleeding at the time of surgery, need for another session of
valve resection, incidence of iatrogenic injury and length of hospital stay after surgery.
Results: There were 14 patients in each group. There was no significant difference in the two
groups as far as duration of surgery, incidence of iatrogenic injury and length of hospital stay was
concerned. No bleeding took place in the hot knife group while small amount of bleeding took
place in one patient of cold knife group. None of these patients required second session of
surgery for residual valve.
Conclusion: Cold knife is at least as safe as hot knife for the purpose of resection of PUV.