title: Neodymium:YAG visual laser ablation of the prostate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to evaluate safety and efficacy of laser prostatectomy in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) visual laser ablation of the prostate was performed in 43 patients (mean age 66 +/- 11.5 years) with BPH. The mean prostatic volume was 44.7 +/- 19.7 ml. A right-angle, side-firing laser fiber (Lasersonics Ultraline) and a neodymium:YAG laser generator (Hercules 5060) were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no perioperative complications including hemorrhage and transurethral reflux syndrome. The average postoperative hospital stay was 1.3 days, and the average urethral catheterization time was 3.8 days. Thirty-two patients were evaluated 6 months after the operation. A significant improvement was found in the mean symptom score from 21.8 +/- 7.6 to 8.3 +/- 6.9 (p < 0.001). A significant decrease from 104.3 +/- 78 to 55.7 +/- 30 ml was found between the preoperative and the postoperative mean residual urine volumes (p < 0.001). The mean peak flow rate increased from 8.7 +/- 3.9 to 16.1 +/- 2.4 ml/s (p < 0.001), and the mean average flow rate increased from 4.9 +/- 2 to 10.2 +/- 2.9 ml/s (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that laser prostatectomy is a promising alternative in the treatment of BPH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Haydarpasa, Numune Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sengör
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erdoğan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tuzluoğlu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onur
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sözer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization