Shiramizu Seiya, Aramaki Kazunobu, Fujimoto Naohiro
Urology, Kurate Hospital, Kurate, JPN.
Cureus. 2025 May 29;17(5):e85056. doi: 10.7759/cureus.85056. eCollection 2025 May.
Transurethral water vapor energy (WAVE) therapy is a minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that typically results in coagulative necrosis without significant clinical sequelae. However, rare complications such as urinary tract obstruction due to sloughed necrotic tissue have been reported. We report the case of a 67-year-old man with BPH who developed acute urinary retention and underwent WAVE. Although his initial postoperative course was favorable, he subsequently presented with worsening voiding dysfunction. Imaging revealed a soft tissue mass with surface calcification obstructing the bladder neck. Cystoscopy identified a calcified mass adherent to the bladder neck, and endoscopic removal of the underlying necrotic tissue resulted in rapid improvement of urinary symptoms. This case highlights a rare but significant complication of WAVE. Clinicians should consider the possibility of bladder outlet obstruction due to necrotic tissue extrusion in patients with delayed postoperative urinary symptoms.