Current laser application in En bloc resection of bladder tumor- a narrative literature review

At present, laser en bloc resection of bladder tumor (ERBT) has attracted great interest with potential superiority to transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). It has several advantages, including complete resection, intact specimen for accurate histologic assessment, avoiding fragmentation and tumor seeding, preventing obturator nerve reflex, and reduction of inflammatory response. Several types of lasers have been studied in the application of ERBT, for example, holmium laser, green-light laser, thulium laser, diode laser. This paper reviews current literature concerning the characteristics of these types of laser, the surgical technique and procedures of laser ERBT with its advantages and limitations, and future directions in clinical development, aiming to display the status quo of these techniques in clinical practice.