[Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TUV-P): comparative study with transurethral resection (TUR-P)]

A total of 27 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were treated by transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TUV-P). A roller bar electrode was used for 13 patients and a roller loop electrode for 14. Therapeutic efficacy and complications of TUV-P were compared with those of transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) performed before TUV-P was started (24 patients). The improvements in subjective symptom scores and objective voiding parameters after 3 months were not significantly different between the TUV-P and TUR-P groups. Furthermore, the improvements were similar between TUV-P using the roller bar and the roller loop. No patients treated by TUV-P had TUR syndrome or received blood transfusion, while blood transfusion was performed in 4 patients treated by TUR-P. Postoperative duration of urethral catheterization and hospital stay was significantly shorter in the TUV-P group than in the TUR-P group. The operative time for TUV-P (roller bar) was 1.6 min per g. preoperative prostate volume, while that for TUV-P (roller loop) and TUR-P was 2.1 and 1.9 min/g, respectively. From our experience, TUV-P was as effective as TUR-P for relieving bladder outlet obstruction with fewer complications. Furthermore, the operative time could be shortened with a roller loop.