Pretreatment of the urethral mucosa at the tip of the prostate: a retrospective review in preventing stress urinary incontinence after thulium laser enucleation of the prostate.

OBJECTIVE

Explore the clinical application value of urethral mucosal pretreatment at the tip of the prostate in preventing stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP).

METHODS

Eighty-seven patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treated with ThuLEP from June 2021 to December 2022 were divided into two groups. Of these, 42 patients (group A) underwent conventional ThuLEP and 45 patients (group B) were enucleated after pretreatment of the urethral mucosa. At the tip of the prostate, pretreatment of the urethral mucosa consisted of pushing the gland separately on both sides at the level of the verumontanum and cutting off the mucosa near the external urethral sphincter clockwise and counterclockwise. The perioperative and postoperative follow-up indicators [operation time, hemoglobin reduction, complications, Qmax, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), and post-void residual (PVR) volume] of the two groups of patients were collected and compared. All patients were followed up 1 month after surgery.

RESULTS

All 87 procedures were successfully completed. There was no significant difference in age and gland size between the two groups ( > 0.05). There was no significant difference between operating time and hemoglobin reduction in the two groups ( > 0.05). The Qmax, IPSS, QOL, and PVR volume were significantly improved postoperatively in both groups ( < 0.05). Temporary SUI occurred in both groups [12 cases (28.5%) in group A and 3 cases (6.7%) in group B ( < 0.05)]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of infection and urethral stricture between the two groups ( > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Pretreatment of the urethral mucosa before ThuLEP for BPH significantly reduces the incidence of SUI after surgery. This technique, which preconditions the apical urethral mucosa of the prostate, is safe and effective, has few complications, and is worthy of clinical application.