[Value of transurethral laser therapy in the treatment of bladder carcinoma]

A new method has been developed allowing the introduction of the argon laser beam into the water-filled bladder using normal operation cystoscopes. The energy is applicated to the bladder by means of a light conductor which is placed into the bladder through the working channel of an operation cystoscope. Treating large tumors of the bladder we laser the resection bed after electroresection (TUR). The sole use of laser therapy on large tumors of the bladder is not to be recommended because of the uncertainty of their total destruction. On the other hand, the sole laser coagulation of small relapses of tumor up to the size of raspberries restricted to the mucous membrane seems to be more effective than electroresection. The advantage of laser treatment is the absence of electric power flow through the tissue which avoids muscle convulsions of the bladder and electric power leakage. Besides of this, laser therapy being painless allows treatment without anesthesia. So far 68 patients with tumors of the bladder have been treated by transurethral laser therapy combined with electroresection (TUR). The aim of transurethral laser therapy is the reduction of recidivity of bladder tumors.