title: Effectiveness and Safety of Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate with the 120 W HPS Greenlight Laser in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients Taking Oral Anticoagulants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effectiveness and safety of photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) with the 120 W high-performance system (HPS) Greenlight laser procedure in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients taking oral anticoagulant medications.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted on BPH patients taking oral anticoagulant medications form March 2009 to December 2010. Group I consisted of patients who stopped oral anticoagulant medications before surgery (n=30), and group II consisted of patients who continued oral anticoagulant medications before surgery (n=30). PVP applying the 120 W HPS Greenlight laser was done, and followed up for 12 weeks. Follow-up variables were International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), and hemoglobin level change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12 weeks after surgery, we confirmed the improvement in the IPSS score of Group I compared with preoperative scores. The quality of life (QoL) score, Qmax and PVR were also improved. respectively, both of which were significantly improved. In Group II, similarly, the total IPSS score, the voiding symptom score, and the storage symptom score were improved in comparison with the preoperative scores. The QoL score, Qmax and the PVR were improved in comparison with the preoperative scores. During the 12-week follow-up period, no major postsurgical complications requiring transfusion, rehospitalization, etc. were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 120 W HPS Greenlight laser PVP procedure can be performed effectively and safely in BPH patients, even those who cannot stop oral anticoagulant medications despite requiring surgery.
authors: Department of Urology, The Catholic University of Korea, School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jun Ho
authors: JH
authors: Sohn
authors: Yong Sun
authors: YS
authors: Choi
authors: Su Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Kim
authors: Hyuk Jin
authors: HJ
authors: Cho
authors: Sung Hoo
authors: SH
authors: Hong
authors: Ji Youl
authors: JY
authors: Lee
authors: Tae-Kon
authors: TK
authors: Hwang
authors: Sae Woong
authors: SW
authors: Kim