Transurethral needle ablation of the prostate for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a collaborative multicentre study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and safety of transurethral needle ablation of the prostate (TUNA) for patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a multicentre trial.


METHODS
Seventy-six patients were recruited from five centres; all were treated with the TUNA system consisting of a powered radiofrequency generator and a TUNA catheter. The patients were evaluated prospectively using the international prostate symptom score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, quality-of-life score, and other variables, and followed for a mean of 12 months after treatment.


RESULTS
Sixty-eight patients were available for follow-up: TUNA produced significant improvements in the IPSS (median 22 before, to 7.5 after treatment). urinary flow rate (mean 8.7 before, to 11.6 mL/s after treatment) and quality-of-life score (median 5 before, to 2 after treatment) at 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
If these early promising results are maintained. In the medium to long term, TUNA therapy will be a useful low-morbidity alternative for patients with symptomatic BPH.
Ramon
J
J
Sheba Medical Centre, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
Lynch
T H
TH
Eardley
I
I
Ekman
P
P
Frick
J
J
Jungwirth
A
A
Pillai
M
M
Wiklund
P
P
Goldwasser
B
B
Fitzpatrick
J M
JM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014546:Urinary Catheterization; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy