Transurethral RollerLoop vapor resection of prostate for treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: a 2-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the 2-year safety and efficacy of two transurethral resection techniques-transurethral vapor resection of the prostate (TUVRP) and conventional loop transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)-in the surgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.


METHODS
Between August 1997 and September 2002, 441 patients underwent transurethral prostatectomy, either TUVRP (n = 221) or TURP (n = 220). TUVRP was performed using a "RollerLoop" resection loop. All patients were assessed preoperatively by means of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) score, prostate volume, peak urinary flow (Qmax) and post-void residual volume (PVR) measurements and a sexual function questionnaire. Patients were followed up for 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery, and this was followed by a comparison of the incidences of sexual dysfunction, complications and re-treatment.


RESULTS
After 2 years of follow-up, no differences were noted between the TUVRP and TURP groups with respect to average IPSS (p = 0.9), QOL scores (p = 0.56), Qmax (p = 0.89) or PVR (p = 0.55), as well as the incidences of bladder neck contracture or urethral stricture (p = 0.34), re-treatment (p = 0.49) or sexual dysfunction (p = 0.57). However, significant reductions in operative time (p = 0.005), decrease in serum hemoglobin levels (p < 0.001), catheterization time (p < 0.001), postoperative hospital stay (p < 0.001) and hospitalization costs (p < 0.001) were observed in the TUVRP group compared to the TURP group.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that TUVRP provides equivalent safety and efficacy to TURP during a 2-year follow-up period, in which short-term advantages in perioperative morbidity and cost savings were also demonstrated.
Liu
Chih-Kuang
CK
Department of Urology, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lee
Wen-Kai
WK
Ko
Ming-Chung
MC
Jeng
Huey-Sheng
HS
Chiang
Han-Sun
HS
Yu
Hong-Jeng
HJ
D000368:Aged; D004566:Electrodes; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014835:Volatilization