[Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia by radiofrequency (TUNA): a monocentric study of 28 cases treated in ambulatory surgery].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility of ambulatory surgery in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia using radio frequency (TUNA) and evaluate its place in terms of efficiency among other minimally invasive surgical techniques.


METHODS
Fifty-four patients suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia and for whom medical treatment was ineffective, were treated with radio frequency between September 2004 and June 2007. Among them, 28 patients, whose average age was 65.8 (aged 52-82), were selected for Transurethral Needle Ablation (TUNA) as outpatients. Urine status was assessed before and after TUNA treatment using the International Prostate Score System, the Quality Of Life-score to urinary symptoms, the measures of the maximal flow rate and of the residual urine. The erectile function was assessed using the five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5).


RESULTS
With an average regression of 12.14 months, a significant improvement in urine status was observed with an average IPSS score passing from 22.4 to 9.75 and an average quality of life score passing from 4.9 to 1.9. The maximum flow rate and average flow volume increased significantly from 8.66 to 14.6 ml/s and from 202 to 248.4 ml respectively. Average urine residue was reduced from 177.4 to 112.2 ml (p<0.05). The IIEF-5 score did not increase significantly (14.1 versus 12.8). There were no cases of patients being rehospitalised. One case of prostatitis and six cases of acute urinary retention were observed at the postoperative stage. The rate of retreat was 21.4%.


CONCLUSIONS
TUNA treatment is a minimally invasive technique of benign prostatic hyperplasia which can be carried out in ambulatory surgery and which is effective for urinary symptoms with little risk of morbidity. It is an alternative to medical treatment and does not replace planned surgical treatment.
Le Gal
S
S
Service d'urologie, CHU de Caen, Caen, France. sophie.legal@netcourrier.com
Fouques
Y
Y
Mallick
S
S
Taksin
L
L
Le Toquin-Bernard
S
S
Frachet
O
O
Bensadoun
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery*