Recent advances in the surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia

TURP for many years has been considered the gold standard for surgical treatment of BPH. Symptoms relief, improvement in Maximum flow rate and reduction of post void residual urine have been reported in several experiences. Notwithstanding a satisfactory efficacy, concerns have been reported in terms of safety outcomes: intracapsular perforation, TUR syndrome, bleeding with a higher risk of transfusion particularly in larger prostates have been extensivelyreported in the literature. In the recent years the use of new forms of energy and devices suchas bipolar resector, Ho: YAG and potassium-titanyl-phosphate laserare challenging the role of traditional TURP for BPH surgical treatment. In 1999 TURP represented the 81% of surgical treatment for BPHversus 39% of 2005. Is this a marketing driven change or is there areal advantage in new technologies? We analyzed guidelines and higher evidence studies to evaluate therole of the most relevant new surgical approaches compared to TURPfor the treatment of BPH. In case of prostates of very large size the challenge is ongoing, with minimally invasive laparoscopic approach and most recently robotic approach. We will evaluate the most recent literature on this emerging field.