title: Interstitial laser coagulation in the management of lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of bladder outlet obstruction from benign prostatic hyperplasia: long-term follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term effects, including durability, of interstitial laser coagulation (ILC) in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 49 men (median age 68 years, range 52-80) were treated with ILC; 22 men were assessed for a median (range) of 54 (46-61) months. Information on the timing and type of re-treatment were collected for the remaining patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median (quartiles) International Prostate Symptom Score decreased from 22 (19-28) at baseline to 13 (5-21), a decrease of 41%. The peak urinary flow increased by 20% to 10.2 (8.7-12.9) mL/s. Twenty-two patients were re-treated (by any type) after ILC, giving a re-treatment rate of 50%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were moderate effects on voiding variables and a high re-treatment rate during the long-term follow-up after ILC. It seems reasonable that the use of ILC is restricted to selected, high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Section for Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Bergen and Department of Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021 Bergen, Norway. lars.daehlin@kir.uib.no
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daehlin
authors.forename: Jannicke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frugård
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D053448:Prostatism / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001748:Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014563:Urodynamics