One-year outcomes after water vapor thermal therapy for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia in an unselected Italian multicenter cohort.

BACKGROUND: Water vapor therapy (Rezum®; Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA) for bladder outflow obstruction (BOO) due to benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) is a minimally invasive and innovative surgical technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate its mid-term results in a large multicentric cohort of Italian patients. METHODS: Patients with BPO and moderate to severe LUTS who underwent Rezum® (Boston Scientific) treatment from May 2019 to July 2021 were included in this study. Pre- and postoperative evaluation comprised full urological evaluation with urine culture, digital rectal examination, serum PSA, transrectal prostate ultrasound, uroflowmetry, post-void residual and IPSS, OAB-q SF, ICIQ-UI SF and IIEF-5, ejaculatory anterograde rate. Minimum follow-up was 12 months. Patients' subjective satisfaction was recorded with Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) Scale together with any early or late reported complications, classified according to Clavien-Dindo Scale. Statistical analysis was conducted as appropriate. RESULTS: Overall, 352 patients were eligible for the analysis. Procedures were routinely done on an outpatient basis. Mean operative was 12 minutes. The catheter was left in place for a median of 7 days. After treatment, Qmax, IPSS and IPSS-QoL, OAB-q SF, ICIQ-UI SF and IIEF-5 from baseline to last control follow-up (median 16, IQR 13-20 months) were improved (P<0.05). The postoperative anterograde ejaculation rate was recorded in 74.1% vs. preoperative 43.8% (P<0.001). Early (≤30 days) postoperative complications occurred in 176 patients (50%), all Clavien-Dindo Grade ≤2. One patient experienced clot retention and hematuria requiring hospitalization and blood transfusion. No late AEs were recorded. Surgical retreatment rate was 2.5% (9/352), all cases occurred within the first year. Median PGI-I was 2 (1-2). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the safety and efficacy of water vapor therapy for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) on a large cohort of patients. Anterograde ejaculation was preserved in the majority of patients, with good subjective improvement. Further studies may rule out possible role of Rezum® (Boston Scientific) in new patients' setting.

[A cause of acute renal dysfunction: a giant bladder diverticulum].

We describe the case of a previously 77-year-old man who accessed in our Nephrology Unit for acute kidney injury (AKI) on chronic kidney disease (CKD), gastric discomfort and vague urinary symptoms with apparently preserved diuresis and suspected "ascites". Physical examination confirmed the presence of abdominal effusion, even though ultrasound abdominal examination revealed the presence of a giant diverticular urinary bladder with bilateral hydronephrosis. We discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of these rare complications by briefly reviewing the technical aspects and the possible consequences.