A comparative study of laser ablation and transurethral electroresection for benign prostatic hyperplasia: results of a 6-month follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of standard transurethral electroresection of the prostate (TURP) and visual laser ablation in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).


METHODS
In a randomized prospective study, the prostate glands of 60 patients with symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction caused by BPH were treated with TURP or visual ablation with the Ultraline side-firing Nd:YAG laser; the patients were assessed using standard symptom scores, the measurement of residual urine and uroflowmetry both before and at 3 and 6 months after treatment.


RESULTS
All patients in both treatment groups had a significant improvement in symptoms and objective measures of voiding. The laser treatment gave significantly better improvements in symptom score than did TURP (P = 0.034), but TURP produced significantly better peak urinary flow rates (P = 0.025).


CONCLUSIONS
These early results indicate that laser ablation of BPH may be a good alternative in the surgical treatment of this disease.
Sengör
F
F
Haydarpasa Numune State Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Köse
O
O
Yücebas
E
E
Beysel
M
M
Erdogan
K
K
Narter
F
F
D000368:Aged; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery*; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*