A Review of Laser Treatment for Symptomatic BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the predominant cause of bladder outflow obstruction and is associated with significant morbidity. Surgical removal of adenoma has been a key treatment principle for alleviation of obstruction. Lasers have been used as an alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), due to the higher complications of the latter procedure, since the early 1990s. Early generations of lasers utilized coagulative and ablative techniques to dis-obstruct the bladder. Ablative techniques have remained popular with the resurgence of 532-nm vaporization (commonly known as GreenLight). Enucleation techniques especially with the holmium laser have shown durable efficacy in randomized controlled trials whilst new modalities such as thulium still require long-term data. This review examines the most common types of laser technology used in BPH surgery, with a focus on efficacy and side effect profile.