Water intoxication after 15 minutes of transurethral resection of the prostate

Water intoxication from intravascular absorption of non-electrolyte irrigating fluid is a well-known and often serious complication of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The amount of fluid absorbed is related to the time elapsed and number of venous sinuses open during resection. It is commonly accepted that a resection time of an hour is relatively safe for the prevention of this syndrome. To the authors' knowledge, acute water intoxication with grand mal seizures secondary to severe iatrogenic hyponatremia following only 15 minutes of resection has not been reported.