Another feature of TURP syndrome: hyperglycaemia and lactic acidosis caused by massive absorption of sorbitol

Endoscopic transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) can be complicated by absorption of a large volume of irrigation fluid. The clinical features of this complication are referred as the TURP syndrome. We report a case where hyperglycaemia and lactic acidosis complicated the TURP syndrome caused by the massive absorption (approximately 15 litres) of a sorbitol– mannitol irrigation solution. The proposed mechanism is a type B lactic acidosis related to the metabolism of sorbitol.