Neodymium:YAG visual laser ablation of the prostate.

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate safety and efficacy of laser prostatectomy in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) visual laser ablation of the prostate was performed in 43 patients (mean age 66 +/- 11.5 years) with BPH. The mean prostatic volume was 44.7 +/- 19.7 ml. A right-angle, side-firing laser fiber (Lasersonics Ultraline) and a neodymium:YAG laser generator (Hercules 5060) were used. There were no perioperative complications including hemorrhage and transurethral reflux syndrome. The average postoperative hospital stay was 1.3 days, and the average urethral catheterization time was 3.8 days. Thirty-two patients were evaluated 6 months after the operation. A significant improvement was found in the mean symptom score from 21.8 +/- 7.6 to 8.3 +/- 6.9 (p < 0.001). A significant decrease from 104.3 +/- 78 to 55.7 +/- 30 ml was found between the preoperative and the postoperative mean residual urine volumes (p < 0.001). The mean peak flow rate increased from 8.7 +/- 3.9 to 16.1 +/- 2.4 ml/s (p < 0.001), and the mean average flow rate increased from 4.9 +/- 2 to 10.2 +/- 2.9 ml/s (p < 0.001). Our results indicate that laser prostatectomy is a promising alternative in the treatment of BPH.