A Systematic Review on the Timing of Surgical Intervention for Benign Prostatic Enlargement (BPE)

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Surgical intervention for benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) is typically reserved for those who fail medical therapy (i.e., α-blocker or 5-α reductase inhibitor treatment). We conducted a systematic review to determine whether timing of surgical intervention for BPE affects patient outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

The studies we reviewed suggested that patients who undergo surgical intervention for BPE after failing medical therapy may have worse outcomes. Increased age, worsened bladder function, and worse overall health may contribute to worsened outcomes. To date, there are few high-quality studies on the timing of surgical intervention for BPE in the literature. Further prospective trials are needed to determine ideal timing for intervention.

Real-world comparative effectiveness of shockwave lithotripsy versus ureterorenoscopy for the treatment of urinary stones

PURPOSE

To identify clinical and non-clinical predictors of treatment failure and perioperative complications following ureterorenoscopy versus shockwave lithotripsy.

METHODS

The New York State Department of Health Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) database was used to identify 226,331 patients who underwent index ureteroscopy or shockwave lithotripsy for renal stones from 2000 to 2016. Propensity-matched generalized linear-mixed modeling was utilized to compare failure and complication rates between the two procedure groups.

RESULTS

219,383 individuals meeting inclusion criteria who underwent either ureterorenoscopy (n = 124,342) or shockwave lithotripsy (n = 95,041) in New York State between 2000 and 2016 were included in our analysis. After propensity score matching, patients undergoing shockwave lithotripsy were found to have decreased odds of experiencing any type of 30-day complication (P < 0.001 for all) but increased odds of treatment failure at both 90 (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.64-1.77) and 180 (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.76-1.89) days (P < 0.001 for both).

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing shockwave lithotripsy experienced significantly higher odds of treatment failure, although this undesirable outcome appears to be partially offset by lower 30-day complication rates.

Water vapor thermal therapy for lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT) is a minimally invasive procedure for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There are no known systematic reviews reporting the effectiveness and safety of this increasingly common BPH therapy.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies utilizing WVTT for symptomatic BPH. The international prostate symptom score (IPSS), IPSS-quality of life (IPSS-QOL), BPH impact index (BPHII), and maximum flow rate (Qmax) were calculated as the weighted mean difference relative to baseline and reported in minimal clinically important difference (MCID) units. MCID thresholds were -3 for IPSS, -0.5 for IPSS-QOL, -0.5 for BPHII, and 2 mL/s for Qmax. The surgical retreatment rate was calculated using life-table methods.

RESULTS

We identified 5 cohorts treated with WVTT from 4 studies (514 patients; 40% with median lobe obstruction) with 2 years median follow-up (range: 6 months to 4 years). The IPSS, IPSS-QOL, BPHII, and Qmax significantly improved at all intervals between 3 months and 4 years; this benefit ranged from 3.3 to 3.8 MCID units for IPSS, 3.9 to 4.6 MCID units for IPSS-QOL, 6.8 to 8.2 MCID units for BPHII, and 1.5 to 3.0 MCID units for Qmax. The surgical retreatment rate was 7.0% at 4 years of follow-up data. Most adverse events were nonserious and transient; dysuria, urinary retention, and urinary tract infection were most common. No cases of de novo erectile dysfunction occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

WVTT provided improvement in BPH symptoms that exceeded established MCID thresholds, preserved sexual function, and was associated with low surgical retreatment rates over 4 years.

Ejaculatory Hood-Sparing Vaporization of the Prostate and Its Impact on Erectile, Ejaculatory, and Sexual Function

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of ejaculatory hood (EH)-sparing transurethral vaporization of the prostate (TUVP) on sexual function, with a specific focus on erectile and ejaculatory function.

METHODS

We studied 25 patients who underwent EH-sparing Photo Selective Vaporization of the Prostate using the Greenlight Laser or Bipolar Button Plasma Vaporization of the Prostate from August 2016 to March 2018. All patients were sexually active with anterograde ejaculation prior to treatment. Patients completed the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ) and AUA Symptom Score pre- and postoperatively. We compared preprocedure sexual function with postprocedure sexual function at 1- and 3-month intervals. A logistic regression model was used to identify predictors of improvement in sexual function.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients underwent EH-sparing TUVP from August 2016 to March 2018. At 3-months postoperatively, patients had significant improvement in erection score (12 vs 9, P = .04) and erection bother score (5 vs 3.5, P <.01) compared to baseline. They also had improvement in ejaculation score (26 vs 23, P = .03), ejaculation bother score (5 vs 4, P = .01), and total MSHQ score (87.5 vs 73, P = .01). Anterograde ejaculation was preserved in 80.0% of patients. Logistic regression identified higher AUA score severity as an independent predictor of MSHQ score improvement (1.32, CI: 1.03-1.69, P = .03).

CONCLUSION

At 3 months postoperatively, the majority of men who underwent EH-sparing TUVP had preserved anterograde ejaculation and improved overall sexual function based on MSHQ survey. This validates EH-sparing TUVP in men with BPH who wish to maintain sexual function.

Impact of Body Mass Index on Outcomes Following Anatomic GreenLight Laser Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate

Introduction: Obesity can lead to increased risk of perioperative complications in surgical patients, but evidence is lacking regarding the impact of obesity on bladder outlet surgery outcomes. We sought to assess the safety and efficacy of GreenLight photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) in obese patients by comparing functional outcomes and complications in men, stratified according to the body mass index (BMI). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was undertaken of 424 men who underwent 180W GreenLight PVP between 2012 and 2016 at two tertiary medical centers. Patients were stratified based on the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of obesity as determined by BMI. Normal weight men had BMI <25 kg/m², overweight men had BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m², and obese men had BMI greater than 30 kg/m². Primary endpoints examined were differences in intraoperative outcomes and incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications between BMI groups. Secondary endpoints were improvements in the International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life score, and the uroflowmetry variables, maximum urinary flow rate and postvoid residual. Results: The BMI groups did not differ regarding operative time or lasing time after matching for prostate volume, but overweight patients in the matched cohort still required higher mean energy use than normal weight men (258.6 kJ vs 233.9 kJ; p = 0.017). No significant differences between BMI groups were observed for intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, or readmission rates. All functional parameters were significantly improved at 24 months for each group, with no differences in improvement between groups. On multivariable analysis, BMI was not a significant predictor for outcomes following PVP. Conclusions: Increased BMI has a negligible effect on intraoperative parameters and does not affect postoperative complication rates or functional outcomes. GreenLight XPS 180W PVP is a safe and effective procedure in overweight and obese men.

An evaluation of the federal adverse events reporting system data on adverse effects of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the sexual, physical, and mental adverse effects associated with exposure to 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARIs).

METHODS

FAERS data containing finasteride and dutasteride reports were analyzed from January 2000 to April 2019. Reports identified one or more adverse effects, along with all concurrent medications. Cases of monotherapy of finasteride or dutasteride were identified. We conducted a chi-square test of independence to assess the relationship between the three drug groups and adverse event (AE) occurrence across 19 sexual, physical, and mental AE categories. The frequency procedure in SAS was utilized to summarize rates of AEs between various dosages of each drug.

RESULTS

A total of 16,014 case reports were obtained. After excluding females, 7436 case reports of 5ARI monotherapy were identified: 2628 of dutasteride 0.5 mg, 3266 of finasteride 1 mg, and 744 of finasteride 5 mg. Differences in rates of AEs occurrence were statistically significant across all 19 variables (p < 0.001) with a significantly higher proportion of AEs attributed to finasteride 1 mg, with gynecomastia being the only exception. Case report submissions rose dramatically following FDA-mandated finasteride label change.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis of FAERS data suggests AEs of 5ARIs are dose-independent with greater likelihood of occurrence in younger patients, particularly in sexual and mental domains. The causality and the rate of AEs are not certain based on the FAERS data and future prospective studies are necessary to determine the true rates.

Integrative multiplatform molecular profiling of benign prostatic hyperplasia identifies distinct subtypes

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate, is among the most common diseases affecting aging men, but the underlying molecular features remain poorly understood, and therapeutic options are limited. Here we employ a comprehensive molecular investigation of BPH, including genomic, transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling. We find no evidence of neoplastic features in BPH: no evidence of driver genomic alterations, including low coding mutation rates, mutational signatures consistent with aging tissues, minimal copy number alterations, and no genomic rearrangements. At the epigenetic level, global hypermethylation is the dominant process. Integrating transcriptional and methylation signatures identifies two BPH subgroups with distinct clinical features and signaling pathways, validated in two independent cohorts. Finally, mTOR inhibitors emerge as a potential subtype-specific therapeutic option, and men exposed to mTOR inhibitors show a significant decrease in prostate size. We conclude that BPH consists of distinct molecular subgroups, with potential for subtype-specific precision therapy.

Transfusion rates after 800 Aquablation procedures using various haemostasis methods

OBJECTIVE

To determine if athermal methods are as effective in preventing blood transfusions as the use of cautery across various prostate volumes following prostate tissue resection for benign prostatic hyperplasia using Aquablation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The current commercial AQUABEAM robot that performs Aquablation therapy was first used in 2014. Since then numerous clinical studies have been conducted in various countries; Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Lebanon, Spain, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States. All of the clinical trial data since 2014 were pooled with the early commercial procedures from France, Germany, and Spain to determine the effectiveness of haemostatic techniques in reducing the transfusion rate in patients after Aquablation.

RESULTS

In all, 801 patients were treated with Aquablation therapy from 2014 to early 2019. The mean (SD, range) prostate volume was 67 (33, 20-280) mL and 31 (3.9%) transfusions were reported. The largest contributing factor to transfusion risk was prostate size and method of traction. There was an increasing risk of transfusions in larger prostates when robust traction using a catheter-tensioning device (CTD) without cautery was used, ranging from 0.8% to 7.8% in prostates ranging from 20 to 280 mL. However, when standard traction (taping the catheter to the leg, gauze knot synched up to the meatus, or no traction at all) was used and where the surgeon performed bladder neck cautery only when necessary, the risk of transfusion was 1.4-2.5% in prostates ranging from 20 to 280 mL.

CONCLUSIONS

While the athermal subgroup with robust traction with a CTD had comparable transfusion rates for smaller prostates, the risk increased significantly as prostate volume increased. With standard traction methods and selective bladder neck cautery, the risk of transfusion was reduced to 1.9% across all prostate sizes.

Standardization of 532 nm Laser Terminology for Surgery in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review

Introduction: The use of GreenLight™ laser technology to remove the prostatic transitional zone transurethrally has grown considerably in recent years. This increased utilization has resulted in an increase in the number of terms that are used to describe various laser techniques. Variable terminology complicates literature analysis and publication, which can cause confusion when performing reviews and comparisons of the techniques in the available literature. It has therefore become necessary to simplify and standardize terminology used to describe transurethral prostate debulking procedures using the 532 nm laser to simplify communication on these techniques. Materials and Methods: We conducted a search on September 17, 2019, in the following databases: Ovid MEDLINE^®, Ovid EMBASE, and PubMed. Results: Of the 1115 unique records found in our database search, a total of 27 articles were selected for inclusion. Of the 16 search terms used, we found that 4 terms could be used to describe the fundamental technique associated with each search term. These terms include "vaporization," "vaporesection," "vapoenucleation," and "enucleation." Conclusions: Standardizing terminology leads to an efficient consolidation of terms based on the above outcomes. This will streamline the literature search process for future publications and facilitate comparison of varying techniques.

Anatomic GreenLight laser vaporization-incision technique for benign prostatic hyperplasia using the XPS LBO-180W system: How I do it

For men experiencing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) refractory to medical therapy, there have been numerous developments in the treatment options offered for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in the recent years. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has remained the reference standard for men with prostates sized 30 cc-80 cc, while open prostatectomy is universally guidelines-recommended in the absence of enucleation, for men with prostates larger than 80 cc-100 cc. While these techniques are effective, they have the potential for bleeding complications requiring transfusions, electrolyte abnormalities such as TURP syndrome, and often require prolonged hospitalization. GreenLight photoselective vaporization (GL-PVP) with the XPS LBO-180W system offers a minimally invasive treatment that can be carried out on essential any sized prostate gland. In addition, the GL-PVP procedure can be done as a same day discharge surgery requiring no overnight hospital admission and allows patients to continue any necessary anti-coagulants given the significantly reduced risks of bleeding complications or TURP syndrome. In 2005, the anatomic vaporization-incision technique (VIT) using the XPS LBO-180W system was described to address larger prostate volumes. VIT combines principles of traditional GL-PVP and enucleation techniques to identify the reference surgical capsule early-on into the surgery and resect portions of prostate adenoma without the need for tissue morcellation. Early studies comparing anatomic VIT to standard PVP outcomes demonstrated significant improvements of IPSS and uroflowmetry parameters, along with statistically significant greater PSA reduction at 6 months, particularly in prostate volumes greater than 80 cc. The objective of this article is to detail our surgical approach to the anatomic GreenLight laser vaporization-incision technique using the XPS LBO-180W system, based on extensive personal experience with both enucleation and vaporization techniques using various laser technologies. Standardization of the VIT based on proper cystoscopy, knowledge of prostate anatomy with preoperative ultrasound, and routine technique is essential to developing consistent, reproducible and optimal surgical outcomes.

Ejaculatory Preserving Middle Lobe Onl-Transurethral Resection and Vaporization of the Prostate: 12-Year Experience

OBJECTIVE

To report long-term safety and efficacy data on middle lobe only-transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) (MLO-TURP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated: (1) efficacy: International Prostate Symptom Score, Quality of Life, peak flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine, International Index of Erectile Function and ejaculatory function, which was assessed by the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire. Men were evaluated at 1 month, 6 months, and yearly thereafter.

RESULTS

A total 312 men (mean age 61.3 ± 8.6) with significant lower urinary tract symptoms (n = 147) or urinary retention (n = 175 were treated with MLO-TURP from 2005 to 2017. Mean baseline prostate volume was 79.8 g (30-178 g); mean baseline intravesical-prostatic protrusion was 13.6. Improvements in International Prostate Symptom Score, Quality of Life, Qmax and postvoid residual urine were durable throughout the study period. There was no difference in outcomes between monopolar and bipolar MLO-TURPs. Postoperatively, the incidence of ejaculatory dysfunction was 2.6% (N = 8) and there was 1 case of new onset ED (0.3%). There were modest improvement in bother due to ejaculatory function (baseline: 2.4 and at 5 years: 1.27).

CONCLUSION

MLO-TURP is a safe and effective treatment for men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Patients experience long-term improvement of symptoms and preserve antegrade ejaculation. In select men with prominent middle lobes, MLO-- should be considered a therapeutic, ejaculation-sparing option.

The Management and Efficacy of Surgical Techniques Used for Erosive Mesh in the Urethra and Bladder: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

This study reports the re-operation and symptom resolution rates of different techniques used in surgical excision of genitourinary mesh erosions.

METHODS

A comprehensive systematic review was completed after searching electronic databases for studies involving outcomes of mesh erosion in humans that were managed surgically using a transvaginal, cystoscopic, or abdominal approach. Surgical outcomes were reported in percentages, ranges, and simple pooling to generate trends in management techniques.

RESULTS

There were 177 cases that met our inclusion criteria. Forty-one patients underwent cystoscopic removal of eroded urethral mesh while 40 cases underwent transvaginal removal of urethral mesh.

CONCLUSIONS

For mesh eroded into the urethra, a transvaginal vs. cystoscopic approach showed a trend toward resolution of symptoms and fewer interventions. For mesh eroded into the bladder, abdominal and cystoscopic approaches had similar symptom resolution, but abdominal approach required fewer interventions.

Recent advances in managing benign prostatic hyperplasia: The Rezūm System

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is a common condition that affects 50% of men in their 50 ^th decade. There have been many advances in the treatment of this condition, which aim to improve the patient’s quality of life. A new treatment that shows promising results is the Rezūm System, a water vapor therapy for BPH. We present the most current literature on this therapy.