[Experiences in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with high power potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser].

UNLABELLED: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) exist in about 70% men after 60 years old. High power KTP laser is a new tool for the treatment of BPH.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: 49 men were treated by photoselective vaporisation of the prostate (PVP) from August 2003 to May 2004. Thirty patients with follow-up period longer than 12 weeks (12 to 26 weeks) were analyzed. Preoperative prostate volume ranged from 31 to 136 cc. PSA range, estimated before treatment, was normal in all patients (pts). International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) estimated before treatment was over 24 and Quality of Life (QoL) was over 3 in all pts. The maximum peak urinary flow (Qmax) before treatment ranged from 7.2 to 14.1 ml/s.

RESULTS: One patient was catheterized with Foley catheter at the finish of the procedure. Two pts required catheterization in the first day after treatment. In two pts increasing of body temperature to 38 degrees C was observed in the first day after treatment. Twenty four hours after treatment haematuria required catheterization was observed in one patient. Seven days after treatment in 4 pts massive haematuria was observed (two required hospitalisation). In one patient because of urinary retention 4 weeks after PVP transurethral resection of the prostate was performed. Four weeks after PVP I-PSS decreased from 24 to 20 and after 12 weeks to 15. The Qmax increased and ranged from 11.3 ml/s to 17.1 ml/s 4 weeks after PVP and 12 weeks after PVP ranged from 15.1 to 22.8 ml/s.

CONCLUSIONS: Photoselective vaporization of the prostate reduces I-PSS in all patients 12 weeks after procedure. Short follow-up period and a limited number of patients in study group cannot lead to ultimate conclusions. However the results encourage to undertaking further studies on PVP for the treatment of BPH.