title: Outcomes following Thulium vapoenucleation of large prostates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thulium laser VapoEnucleation of the prostate (ThuVEP) is an evolving surgical technique for BPH. Most studies have focused on outcomes in small to médium sized prostates and have originated from Europe and Asia. We sought to describe our experience with ThuVEP for very large prostates in a North American cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  From December 2010 to October 2014, 25 men underwent Thu-VEP using the CyberTM® (Quantastem, Italy) thulium laser, all with prostate volume >75mL. Data collected included patient demographics, comorbidities, intraoperative parameters, complications, and post-operative outcomes including maximum flow rate (Qmax), post-void residual (PVR), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and quality of life score (QoL) in one year of follow-up. Statistical analysis was done using Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, mean age was 70±9 years and prostate size was 163±62g. Most patients (84%) were in retention and 10 (40%) patients were on anticoagulation. Seven (28%) patients went home the day of surgery (mean hospital stay: 1.2±1.2d). There were 2 intraoperative complications (8%), both cystotomies related to morcellation. Nine patients (36%) experienced a complication, all within 30 days. There were no Clavien III complications. Significant improvements were seen in Qmax, PVR, IPSS, and QoL score at each time interval to 12-months following surgery (all p<0.05). Of 21 patients initially in retention, all were voiding at last follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that ThuVEP is an effective treatment for BPH in patients with large prostates with sustained results for one year.
authors: Section of Urology, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Shane M
authors: SM
authors: Pearce
authors: Section of Urology, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Joseph J
authors: JJ
authors: Pariser
authors: Section of Urology, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Rena D
authors: RD
authors: Malik
authors: Section of Urology, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Olufenwa J
authors: OJ
authors: Famakinwa
authors: Section of Urology, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.|Department of Urology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Doreen E
authors: DE
authors: Chung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery*; D013932:Thulium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013932:Thulium
keywords: Prostatic Hyperplasia; Thulium; Urinary Tract