title: Holmium laser treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: an update.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia is a dynamic, evolving field. Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate has been one of the most rigorously analyzed interventions for benign prostatic hyperplasia. In the 12 months since July 2005, a number of important studies have been published concerning this technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 12-month period of this review, there have been a number of articles published on holmium laser enucleation of the prostate. Among these are five randomized controlled trials. These studies emphasize the unique advantages of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate over other surgical treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate is a more efficient procedure than competitor techniques, when grams of tissue removed per unit time are quantified. Additionally, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate is associated with a reduced length of catheterization and hospitalization when compared with other surgical therapies for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Outcome measures for men undergoing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate are in many cases superior to those of other modalities. It is likely that the completeness of adenoma removal with holmium laser enucleation of the prostate confers many of these advantages.
authors.affiliation: Methodist Hospital/Clarian Health Partners, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Matlaga
authors.forename: Nicole L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lingeman
mesh_terms: D006695:Holmium; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000601:surgery*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery*; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D006695:Holmium