[Transurethral balloon laser thermotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Minimally Invasive Therapies

Background:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition affecting aging men.
• Current BPH treatments include medication, surgery, and minimally invasive procedures.
• Transurethral balloon laser thermotherapy (TUBAL-T) is one such minimally invasive option.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical efficacy of transurethral balloon laser thermotherapy (TUBAL-T) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
• To assess changes in both subjective and objective parameters following TUBAL-T.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 53 patients with BPH underwent TUBAL-T using Prostalase.
• Clinical efficacy was assessed at 3 months post-procedure.
• International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) was used to evaluate subjective symptoms.
• Objective parameters included maximum flow rate, voided volume, postvoid residual volume, and prostate volume.

Main Results:

• Mean I-PSS significantly decreased from 21.5 to 11.3 (p < 0.0001).
• Irritative symptoms improved by 55% and obstructive symptoms by 45%.
• No significant changes were observed in maximum flow rate, voided volume, percent postvoid residual volume, or prostate volume.

Conclusions:

• TUBAL-T demonstrates significant improvement in subjective BPH symptoms, particularly irritative ones.
• Objective parameters related to urinary flow and prostate size did not show significant improvement.
• TUBAL-T may be an effective option for symptom relief in BPH patients, but its impact on objective measures requires further investigation.