Photoselective vaporization of the prostate: a volume reduction analysis in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia and carcinoma of the prostate

Abstract

Purpose: In this study preoperative and postoperative transrectal ultrasound prostate volume was evaluated in patients undergoing photoselective vaporization of prostate using an 80 W potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser (Greenlight PV Laser System, Laserscope, San Jose, California) for obstructive uropathy secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia or carcinoma of the prostate.

Materials and methods: A total of 18 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (8) and carcinoma of the prostate (10) were treated with an 80 W quasicontinuous KTP laser. Preoperative and immediate postoperative treatment prostate volume measurements were recorded by transrectal ultrasound. The end point of treatment was complete vaporization of the obstructive adenoma to the level of the capsular fibers and the creation of an adequate transurethral resection-like prostatic cavity. KTP/532 laser energy was delivered by a side firing glass fiber through a 27Fr continuous flow resectoscope. Photoselective vaporization of the prostate using sterile water irrigation was performed with all patients under spinal anesthesia. Mean lasting time +/- SEM was 33.5 +/- 12 minutes (range 11 to 53).

Results: Mean preoperative prostate volume +/- SEM was 53.2 +/- 24.7 ml (range 23.6 to 110), while mean postoperative prostate volume was decreased to 26.2 +/- 14.8 ml (range 8 to 58) during a mean followup of 2.8 +/- 2.3 months (range 1 to 10), resulting in a 51% mean decrease in prostate volume, as measured by transrectal ultrasound. There was no significant intraoperative bleeding and no change in serum sodium postoperatively. One patient sustained a small capsular perforation with persistent venous bleeding, which could not be controlled with KTP laser. Because of poor vision, the procedure was completed with electroresection. Complications included mild dysuria in 2 patients (11%) and mild hematuria longer than 2 weeks in duration in 4 (22%).

Conclusions: Photoselective prostate vaporization can effectively vaporize obstructive benign and malignant prostatic tissue, leading to a significant decrease in the total volume of the treated prostate (p = 0.000).