[Laser-based resecting techniques in the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction]

A brought variety of options are at hand in the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction. During the last decades multiple therapeutic approaches have been pushed on the market to compete with the known Gold-Standard, the monopolar TUR-P. Only few have stood the test of time. The first wave of laser-based prostate surgery took place, when the Nd:YAG laser was introduced into clinical urology. However, operating time was long, surgical outcome often poor and the risk of serious complications was high. This lead to the vanishing of Nd:YAG lasers in clinical routine. During the last years, with growing experience in laser physics and the development of new laser types, the laser-based prostatic surgery gained importance. In clinical routine different vaporizing or resecting techniques are established and compete on the market. Aim of this article is to review those lasers, which are currently used in resection techniques and to highlight advantages, but also disadvantages of the different systems.