Transurethral holmium: YAG laser prostatectomy using a side-firing fiber for bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic enlargement: Urodynamic evaluation of surgical outcome

Objectives: To prospectively assess the efficacy of transurethral holmium (Ho):YAG laser prostatectomy using a side-firing fiber in patients with bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) from the standpoint of urodynamics. Methods: 32 male patients with BPE aged 53-83 (mean 69.4) years were operated on. All patients, excluding 3 with urinary retention, were evaluated with the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS), Quality of Life (QOL) score and uroflowmetry up to 12 months postoperatively, and a pressure/flow study was performed before and 3 months after the operation. Results: The total IPSS score, QOL score, average and maximum flow rates improved significantly (p <0.0001) at 12 months postoperatively. In the pressure/flow study, detrusor opening pressure, maximum detrusor pressure, detrusor pressure at maximum flow, minimum urethral opening pressure, and Abrams-Griffiths number decreased significantly (p <0.0001, p = 0.0001, p <0.0001, p = 0.0019 and p <0.0001, respectively) 3 months postoperatively. Detrusor instability disappeared in 12 of 17 patients and remained in 2. Conclusions: Transurethral Ho:YAG laser prostatectomy was found to be effective for the treatment of bladder outlet obstruction due to BPE. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.