Transurethral radiofrequency hot balloon thermal therapy in chronic nonbacterial prostatitis

There is no universally successful therapy for chronic nonbacterial prostatitis. Successful outcomes of treatment have been independently reported with transurethral heat therapy and balloon dilation. The THERP transurethral "hot balloon" uses balloon dilation of the prostatic urethra and radiofrequency heating of the prostate. Patients with refractory chronic nonbacterial prostatitis were assessed with validated prostatitis-specific symptom indices prior to, 3, and 6 months after 900 seconds of THERP treatment. Although early results appeared promising the long-term results in four patients led to early termination of the study. Although one patient did have improvement at 6 months, no patient reported improvement at 9 months, and the adverse events (urinary retention, retrograde ejaculation, hematuria, urethral stricture, worsening of symptoms) of this treatment in prostatitis patients was significant. This study demonstrated no sustainable efficacy and substantial adverse effects for the use of combination balloon dilation and heat therapy for patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis.