A Short-term Results on Efficacy and Safety of High Power (80W) KTP (Potassium-Titanyl-Phosphate) Laser Vaporization of the Prostate

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the gold standard treatment for symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia, but significant complications are associated with this procedure. The aim of this study was to compare the standard TURP with the high power (80W) potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser (KTP/532; Greenlights PVTM laser system; Laserscope, San Jose, USA) to elucidate the efficacy and safety of laser treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 47 consecutive men with symptomatic BPH underwent PVP with an 80W KTP laser. All underwent preoperative and postoperative evaluation, including assessments of international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), peak urinary flow rate (Qmax), post-void residual volume (PVR), prostate specific antigen (PSA), and ultrasound prostate volume (PV). Secondary outcome parameters included surgical time, anesthesia, and length of catheterization. Follow-up assessment occurred at 3 and 12 months. RESULTS: Mean age was 68+/-1.1 years. Mean operative time was 58+/-15.4 minutes. Mean catheterization times were 12.3+/-1.6 hours. All efficacy parameters were significantly improved compared to those obtained preoperatively. Complications included hematuria lasting 1 and 3 months (4.2%), transient incontinence (4.2%), transient dysuria (10.6%), frequency (21.2%), urgency (12.7%) and retrograde ejaculation (51%). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that PVP is safe and efficacious for the treatment of symptomatic BPH. Long follow-up will further validate this new modality as the standard for surgical treatment of BPH.