[Side-fire laser coagulation of the prostate with the neodymium:YAG-laser. Long-term outcome].
Transurethral laser prostatectomy has been widely used in patients with benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) with good short-term results and an excellent safety profile. We investigated how stable the results of side-firing visual laser coagulation of the prostate are during long-term follow-up to evaluate whether laser prostatectomy can really be an alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Between January 1993 and December 1995 a total of 59 patients underwent visual transurethral side-firing laser coagulation of the prostate (Urolase, Bard Inc., Murray Hill, NJ, USA). The patients were monitored at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and then reevaluated after a mean of 33 months. As expected, at the 1-year follow-up there was a significant improvement in peak flow rate, post-void residual urine, international prostate symptom score (IPSS) and quality of life index (QoL). After a mean of 33 months, 15% of the patients required reoperation due to persistent BPO. In the remaining patients, peak flow rate and post-void residual urine were stable. However, the QoL index increased during long-term follow-up and no longer differed from the preoperative value after 33 months. The side-firing laser coagulation of the prostate does not seem to be a sufficient therapeutic alternative to TURP in the treatment of BPO.
Reek
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C
Urologische Klinik und Poliklinik Eppendorf, Universität Hamburg.
Conrad
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S
Heinzer
H
H
Huland
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004867:Equipment Design; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery*; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D014563:Urodynamics