Vaporesection for managing benign prostatic hyperplasia using a 2-microm continuous-wave laser: a prospective trial with 1-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the safety and clinical efficacy of continuous-wave laser vaporesection for the treatment of obstructive benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We treated 72 consecutive patients with obstructive BPH using a 70 W 2-microm continuous-wave laser. The mean (range) age of the patients was 68.6 (52-86) years. Before laser treatment, the patients were examined. The mean (SD, range) prostatic volume was 65.8 (21.7, 36-108) mL. The operative outcomes assessed were: resection time, transfusion rate, catheter time, and haemoglobin and serum sodium levels. The following variables were assessed before and after vaporesection: maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoiding residual urine volume (PVR), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Quality of Life Index (QoL) and sexual function.

RESULTS: All cases were successful using general (two cases), epidural (28) or sacral block regional anaesthesia (42). The mean (SD) vaporesection time was 56 (12.8) min. None of the patients required a transfusion. The mean (SD) catheter time was 1.7 (0.6) days. The mean Qmax increased from 5.7 (1.2) mL/s before to 20.8 (2.1) mL/s after vaporesection and the PVR decreased from 150 to 36 mL. The IPSS and QoL scores improved after vaporesection from 24.6 (4.5) to 6.8 (1.2) and 4.8 (0.2) to 1.4 (0.3), respectively (P < 0.05). Apart from transient dysuria (8%) and irritative symptoms (29%), all patients were satisfied with voiding outcome after vaporesection and none had incontinence.

CONCLUSION: Vaporesection using the 2-microm continuous-wave laser for the treatment of obstructive BPH is a safe and effective ablative procedure with minimal morbidity and rare bleeding.