What's truly minimally invasive in benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery?

Abstract

Purpose of review: There continues to be a strong interest in the novel minimally invasive therapies for lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There has been an emergence of new approaches, particularly with mechanical approaches such as the Urolift and new agents suitable for intraprostatic injection. Our purpose is to review the recent literature regarding the safety and efficacy of these therapies, and introduce a number of promising experimental therapies.

Recent findings: The Urolift device has shown safety and efficacy for BPH treatment in phase III clinical trials, with the advantage of a local anaesthetic outpatient procedure, no catheter, and no sexual dysfunction. Intraprostatic injection of botulinum toxin or ethanol has provided mixed results and need further well designed studies. NX-1207 and PRX302 are newer injectable agents under clinical trial. Several novel therapies such as Rezum, Histotripsy, and Aquablation have no published efficacy and safety data available.

Summary: Urolift appears to be a well tolerated and effective minimally invasive treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH in men who wish to preserve sexual function or who are not suitable for invasive surgery. Further studies will confirm the currently mixed results regarding intraprostatic botulinum toxin or ethanol injections. Rezum, Histotripsy, and Aquablation are experimental treatments under investigation.