Water-induced thermotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Minimally Invasive Therapies
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition affecting aging men.
• Current treatments for BPH have limitations, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches.
• Water-induced thermotherapy (WIT) presents a new minimally invasive option.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of WIT for BPH treatment.
• To assess long-term outcomes of WIT in a European multicenter study.
• To determine patient tolerance and applicability of WIT in various clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• WIT utilizes the Thermoflex System with a closed-loop catheter to deliver heated water (60°C) to prostatic tissue.
• The system enhances thermal energy transfer by reducing the blood heat sink effect through tissue compression.
• Treatments are single 45-minute sessions under local anesthesia.

Main Results:

• A 2-year follow-up of 125 patients showed an 87.4% improvement in peak urine flow.
• International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) improved by 54.2% post-treatment.
• 91.8% of patients reported "excellent" or "good" tolerance.

Conclusions:

• WIT is an efficacious, simple, and well-tolerated minimally invasive treatment for BPH.
• The procedure demonstrates significant improvements in urinary flow and symptoms.
• WIT's ease of use and minimal monitoring requirements allow for versatile clinical application.