Laser prostatectomy. Long-term follow-up of 303 patients

This retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate results and complications in 303 patients with symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who underwent laser prostatectomy focusing on the long-term follow-up, 57 patients had a follow-up of more than 3 years.

A total of 303 patients were treated with the neodymium:YAG laser system for 1993 to 1997, of whom 57 patients were followed up for at least 3 years. All of the patients have been evaluated after 3 months, 6 months and 2 years. 57 patients were evaluated after 3 years. Pre- and postoperative American Urological Association (AUA) symptom score, uroflowmetry (UF), and immediate and long-term complications were assessed.

The mean AUA symptom scores of 303 patients decreased over the 24 months follow-up from 16.9 to 7.6. In 57 patients after 36 months the mean AUA symptom score was 7.1. The mean maximal UF increased over the 24 months from 9 to 14.1 cm3/s in 303 patients. In 57 patients at 3 years the mean UF was 13. 9 cm3/s. The overall complications of 303 patients included two perforations of the bladder wall and two perforations of the prostatic capsule. Six (1.9%) patients had postoperative febrile UTI and 28 (9.2%) patients had acute urinary retention after catheter removal. Early bleeding occurred in 3 (0.9%) patients, late bleeding in 8 (2.4%), 4 (1.2%) had urethral stricture, and 1 had stricture of the bladder neck. The overall reoperation rate for symptomatic residual tissue was 1.9% (6 patients).

Neodymium:YAG laser ablation of prostate represents an efficacious surgical intervention for symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction due to BPH with minimal associated morbidity.