[Laser prostatectomy as alternative to transurethral prostate resection in benign prostatic hyperplasia].

OBJECTIVE

Assessment of the results of laser prostatectomy, as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

DESIGN

Prospective case control study.

SETTING

University Hospital Utrecht, the Netherlands.

METHOD

Between February 1992 and May 1993, 54 men with their micturition complaints due to BPH were treated with laser prostatectomy (TULIP system). Results were assessed using the international prostatic symptom score (IPSS), the maximal flow and urodynamic tests. The results were compared retrospectively with results of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP; n = 40): both groups were urodynamically identical.

RESULTS

Of the 54 patients, 10 could not be evaluated 6 months after treatment (5 of them underwent TURP or a second laser prostatectomy). In 40 patients complete evaluation including urodynamics before and six months after treatment was possible. A significant decrease in the symptom score from 19.3 (SD: 7.6) to 6.3 (SD: 5.4) and increase of the maximal flow during pressure-flow studies from 9.6 to 15.8 ml per second were observed. The decrease of the voiding pressure at 6 months after TURP in comparison with laser prostatectomy was close to significance (p = 0.05); the other improvements after urodynamics were comparable.

CONCLUSION

Laser prostatectomy is a promising new therapy for BPH.