Quality-of-life assessment in patients after laser prostatectomy

Objective To determine the importance of the assessment of quality of life in patients who have undergone laser prostatectomy. Patients and methods Patients undergoing laser prostatectomy were evaluated using the International prostate symptom score (IPSS) questionnaire, uroflowmetry, post-void residual volume (PVR) measurements, and quality-of-life (QOL) and sexual function questionnaires. Results In all, 103 patients were evaluated; there was an overall significant improvement in the mean IPSS, maximum flow, PVR and QOL score and no apparent subjective change in sexual function. There was a good correlation between the TPSS and the QOL score, but no correlation between the QOL score and the maximum flow rate, and only a weak correlation between the IPSS and the maximum now rate. Conclusion Laser prostatectomy significantly changed the patients' quality of life. This may be more important for the patient than the improvement in the voiding variables alone, In future (changes in) quality of life will probably contribute significantly to selecting patients with voiding complaints for particular treatments.