Transurethral prostate vaporization using an oval electrode in 82 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition affecting aging men.
• Current treatments for BPH include medication, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), and laser therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the initial clinical experience with transurethral vaporization of the prostate (TVP) utilizing a newly designed oval electrode for BPH treatment.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of this novel TVP approach.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-two patients with BPH underwent TVP using an oval electrode and a High Frequency Electrosurgery Unit.
• The procedure involved transurethral vaporization of prostate tissue via a percutaneous nephroscope.
• Similar to TURP or TULP, power settings ranged from 240-320 W, with vaporization temperatures reaching 120°C.

Main Results:

• All 82 patients experienced successful urination post-TVP.
• Significant improvements were observed: mean International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) decreased from 27.10 to 5.05.
• Mean bladder residual volume reduced from 147.71 ml to 33.2 ml, and mean urine flow rate (MFR) increased from 4.45 ml/s to 14.57 ml/s (P < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• TVP with the oval electrode is a straightforward procedure associated with reduced hemorrhage and few complications.
• This technique is particularly beneficial for elderly and/or critically-ill patients.
• The study concludes that TVP using this oval electrode is a feasible and low-risk treatment option for BPH.