Long-Term Outcome Following Thulium Vaporesection of the Prostate
Authors: Haiyi Yu, PhD, Zhaocun Zhang, PhD, Yaofeng Zhu, PhD, Jun Chen, PhD, Xuewen Jiang, PhD, Hui Meng, PhD,
and Benkang Shi, PhD
Background: The continuous wave 2-mm Thulium Laser has been introduced as potential technology with both high efficiency and safe practice; although little data have been shown regarding the long-term outcomes.
Objective: To analyze the long-term outcomes after thulium vaporesection of the prostate (ThuVaRP).
Methods: ThuVaRP was performed using the continuous wave, 2-mm Thulium: YAG laser at 70 W. The perioperative and post-operative follow-up data were analyzed.
Results: The average age at surgery was 71.5 (range 55– 94 years). The median prostate size was 60.1 g (range 36.3– 109.8 g). A median operation time was noted at 44.8 6.5 minutes, while the median catheterization time was 3.50.5 days. In regards to hospital stay, most patients had an average duration of 5.51.5 days. Minor complications requiring non-interventional treatment happened in 237 (36.24%) of 654 patients, while major complications requiring re-interventions occurred in one patient (0.15%). During a 60-month follow-up, bladder neck fibrosis occurred in 1.22% of the patients. A BPH recurrence happened in 17 (2.60%) patients, of which 14 patients (2.14%) received a second surgery. In comparison to the pre-operative baseline, the patients Qmax, PVR volume, IPSS, and Qol scores all improved significantly (P<0.01) at time of discharge. This continued into the post-operative follow-up visits (3-6-12-18-14-26-48-60 months).
Conclusions: ThuVaRP is both an effective and safe treatment procedure for symptomatic BPO (with a low occurrence of complications). Lasers Surg. Med. 48:505– 510, 2016. 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.