BACKGROUND: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has been the preferred surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) for the past 50 years. Alternative methods for treating BPH such as visual laser ablation (VLAP) have been established during the past decade. In order to assess the safety and efficacy of VLAP, this alternative method was performed using a Urolase fiber and neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser, and compared to results obtained in patients treated with TURP for BPH.METHODS: In this non-randomized comparative study, 100 BPH patients were equally split between treatment with VLAP or TURP, and their cases compared. The efficacy was assessed using an International Prostate Symptom Score, urinary flow rates, post-void residual urinary volume and an estimated prostate volume.RESULTS: There was a clinically significant improvement in all parameters in both groups. In the VLAP and TURP groups, 92.0% and 81.6%, 90.2% and 86.2 and 93.1% and 100.0% were categorized as effectively-treated cases at 3, 6 and 12 months post-operatively, respectively. No severe side effect was seen in VLAP group. The total and post-operative lengths of hospitalization in the VLAP group were shorter, but the duration of post-operative bladder irrigation was longer in these patients.CONCLUSIONS: Although TURP remains the standard surgical treatment for BPH, VLAP is associated with less morbidity and the clinical outcome is similar compared to patients treated with TURP. VLAP in conjunction with TURP may result in less risk of postoperative urinary retention and vesical irritability.
Aged Aged, 80 and over