title: Efficacy and safety profile of a novel technique, ThuLEP (Thulium laser enucleation of the prostate) for the treatment of benign prostate hypertrophy. Our experience on 148 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the past years laser technology has played a predominant role in prostate surgery, for the treatment of benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH). Various laser devices have been introduced in clinical practice, showing good results in terms of complications and urodynamic outcomes efficacy compared with TURP and Open Prostatectomy.In this study we describe the efficacy and the safety profile of a novel laser technique, ThuLEP (Thulium Laser Enucleation of Prostate) that permits a complete anatomical endoscopic enucleation of prostatic adenoma independently to prostate size.
  
  
  METHODS
  148 patients with a mean age of 68.2 years were enrolled between September 2009 and March 2012 (36 months), and treated for BPH with ThuLEP. Every patient was evaluated at base line according to: Digital Rectal Examination (DRE), prostate volume, Post-Voided volume (PVR), International Prostate Symptoms Score (I-PSS), International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), Quality of Life (QoL), PSA values, urine analysis and urine culture, uroflowmetry. The same evaluation was conducted after a 12 month follow-up. ThuLEP was performed by 2 expert surgeons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data showed a better post-operative outcome in terms of catheter removal, blood loss, TURP syndrome, clot retention and residual tissue compared to large series of TURP and OP. Only 1.3% of patients had bladder wall injury during morcellation. I-PSS, Qmax, Prostate Volume, QoL and PVR showed a highly significant improvement at 12 month follow-up in comparison to preoperative assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ThuLEP represent an innovative option in patients with BPH. It is a size independent surgical endoscopic technique and it can be considered the real alternative, at this time, to TURP and even more to Open Prostatectomy for large prostate, with a complete removal of adenoma and with a low complication rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University Federico II of Naples, Via pasini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. fiacon@tin.it
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prezioso
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Lauro
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruffo
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Illiano
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery*; D013932:Thulium; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013932:Thulium