title: Side firing Neodymium:Yag laser prostatectomy: six years of experience with 170 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the results and complications in 170 patients with symptomatic benign hyperplasia who underwent laser prostatectomy focusing on six month and long-term results.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 170 patients underwent side firing Neodymium:Yag laser prostatectomy between January 1995 and February 2001 of whom 152 and 82 were available after 6 months and 3 years follow-up respectively. Evaluations were done by American Urological Association (AUA) symptom score, peak urinary flow rate, residual volumes and immediate and long-term complications were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median patient follow-up period was 34.1 months (16-70). After 6 months the mean AUA score reduced from 20.2 to 8.2 and found as 9.4 in patients who completed 3 years follow-up. Post voiding urine volume decreased from 110 ml to 46 ml at 6 months and found as 60 ml after 3 years. Peak urinary flow rate increased from 3.4 to 16.4 ml per second after 6 months and found as 14.8 ml per second after 3 years. The overall complications of 170 patients in early period included urinary retention after catheter removal in 6 (3.52%), early bleeding in 2 (1.17%), late bleeding in 1 (0.58%). Late complications included urethral stricture requiring internal urethrotomy in 12 (7.8%), bladder neck contracture in 4 (2.6%) and repeated laser prostatectomy after 2 years in 10 (5.88%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Side firing Neodymium:Yag laser prostatectomy offers a safe and effective treatment for bladder outlet obstruction due to benign hyperplasia with minimal associated morbidity.
authors: Urology Clinics of TCDD Ankara Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. drmetin@anet.net.tr
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Metin
authors: Onder
authors: O
authors: Kayigil
authors: S Iftekhar
authors: SI
authors: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009354:Neodymium; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D015019:Yttrium
chemical_list: D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium