Transurethral hyperthermia for benign prostatic hyperplasia patients with retention

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Technology
• Oncology

Background:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition causing urinary retention in older men.
• Transurethral microwave hyperthermia (TUMH) offers a minimally invasive treatment option for BPH.
• Surgical risks often preclude traditional interventions for some patient groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of transurethral microwave hyperthermia (TUMH) for treating urinary retention in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
• To investigate the correlation between treatment temperature parameters and clinical response.
• To assess outcomes in patients with different types of prostatic hyperplasia.

Main Methods:

• 32 patients with urinary retention due to BPH and poor surgical risk were treated with TUMH.
• Treatments were administered using a helical antenna at 915 MHz, with sessions lasting 60 minutes.
• Temperature monitoring, including thermal mapping, was performed throughout the procedure.

Main Results:

• 72% of patients with bilobar or trilobar hyperplasia became catheter-free.
• Only 14% of patients with median lobe or median bar hypertrophy showed sufficient improvement for catheter removal.
• A significant correlation was found between maximum and average treatment temperatures and positive treatment response (p < 0.005).

Conclusions:

• Transurethral microwave hyperthermia demonstrates therapeutic activity for BPH-induced urinary retention.
• Treatment temperature is a critical factor influencing the success of TUMH.
• TUMH appears more effective for bilobar/trilobar hyperplasia than median lobe/bar hypertrophy.