A prospective multicenter randomized comparison between Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) and Thulium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (ThuLEP)

Prospective randomized multicenter study to evaluate holmium vs. new thulium fiber laser for prostate enucleation

BACKGROUND

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) commonly causes lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men. Holmium (HoLEP) and thulium (ThuLEP) laser enucleation are established techniques for BPH treatment. Thulium fiber laser (TFL) for prostate enucleation (ThuFLEP) shows promising outcomes.

METHODS

A prospective randomized multicenter study was conducted. Patients with BPH and LUTS unresponsive to medical therapy were enrolled. Preoperative, surgical, perioperative and postoperative data were recorded with follow-up at 3 and 6 months. The primary outcome was functional improvement, and the secondary outcome was safety in terms of complications.

RESULTS

Two hundred patients were included (HoLEP 100, ThuFLEP 100). No significant baseline difference was found between groups. At 3 and 6 months we found statistically significant improvements from baseline for both HoLEP and ThuFLEP in efficacy: International Prostatic Symptoms Score (IPSS), IPSS-Quality of Life (QoL), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and post-void residual volume (PVR; P<0.05). At 6 months, mean±SD IPSS, IPSS-QoL, Qmax, and PVR for HoLEP vs. ThuFLEP were 5.8±4.9 vs. 4.8±5.0 points (P=0.57), 1.6±1.4 vs. 0.7±1.1 points (P=0.09), 29.9±12.5 vs. 29.6±8.0 mL/s (P=0.8), and 16.3±17.7 vs. 15.5±13.4 mL (P=0.92), respectively. No intraoperative complication was recorded. No Clavien-Dindo ≥III complications occurred during hospitalization. After 6 months, 8 (8%) and 6 (6%) patients reported mild stress urinary incontinence in HoLEP and ThuFLEP groups, respectively (P=0.24). Urethral stenosis was observed in 3 men (3%) in the HoLEP group and 1 subject (1%) in the ThuFLEP group (P=0.72).

CONCLUSIONS

HoLEP and ThuFLEP are effective and safe for BPH treatment, with comparable functional outcomes and complication rates at 6 months. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Refining surgical strategies in ThuLEP for BPH: a propensity score matched comparison of En-bloc, three lobes, and two lobes techniques

PURPOSE

This study compares the peri-operative and functional outcomes of three distinct surgical techniques in Thulium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (ThuLEP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The main aim is to assess whether the En-bloc, Three-lobe, and Two-lobe techniques have differential effects on surgical efficacy and patient outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients undergoing ThuLEP for BPH between January 2019 and January 2024 at two tertiary centers. Propensity score matching was utilized to balance baseline characteristics among patients undergoing the different techniques. Surgical parameters, including operative time, enucleation time, morcellation time, energy consumption, and postoperative outcomes, were compared among the groups.

RESULTS

Following propensity score matching, 213 patients were included in the analysis. Intraoperative analysis revealed significantly shorter enucleation, laser enucleation, morcellation and operative times and total energy delivered in the En-bloc and Two-lobe groups compared to the Three-lobe group. No significant differences were observed among the groups in terms of intraoperative and postoperative complications. There were no significant differences in functional outcomes at the 3-month follow-up among the groups.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest that while the En-bloc and Two-lobe techniques may offer efficiency benefits and could be considered safe alternatives in ThuLEP procedures, the reduction in laser enucleation time and energy delivered did not necessarily translate into improvements in post operative storage symptoms or other functional outcomes for the patients. Surgeon preference and proficiency may play a crucial role in selecting the most suitable technique for individual patients. Future research should focus on larger-scale prospective studies to further validate these findings and explore potential factors influencing surgical outcomes.

The safety and efficacy of five surgical treatments in prostate enucleation: a network meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The aim of our study was to investigate the comparative outcomes of five different energy types on surgical efficacy and postoperative recovery in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia.

METHODS

The literature was systematically reviewed on December 1st, 2023, encompassing studies retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library databases that incorporated clinical studies of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), Thulium:YAG laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP), transurethral plasmakinetic enucleation of prostate (PKEP), diode laser enucleation of the prostate (DiLEP) and thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuFLEP) in the treatment of prostatic hyperplasia. Two independent reviewers extracted study data and conducted quality assessments using the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Network meta-analysis (NMA) was employed to indirectly analyze the outcomes of endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (EEP) techniques.

RESULTS

The study included a total of 38 studies, comprising 21 non-randomized controlled trials (nRCTs) and 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), incorporating five distinct techniques: holmium laser, Thulium:YAG laser, bipolar plasma, diode laser and thulium fiber laser. In comparing treatment durations, ThuLEP and HoLEP had shorter overall hospital stays than PKEP, while the enucleation time of ThuLEP and HoLEP was shorter than that of ThuFLEP. Moreover, the enucleation tissue weight of both thulium fiber laser and holmium laser was heavier than bipolar plasma. However, the analysis did not reveal any statistically significant variation in complications among the various types of enucleation. In postoperative follow-up, the IPSS at 3 months post-operation was superior in the Thulium:YAG laser group compared to the holmium laser group. The thulium fiber laser technique demonstrated significant advantages over other enucleation methods in terms of QoL and PVR at 12 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Theoretical properties may vary among different energy sources; however, there are no discernible clinical differences in operation-related parameters, postoperative complications, and postoperative follow-up. Therefore, the choice of laser does not significantly impact the outcome. However, due to the limited number of included studies, future research should focus on larger sample sizes and multicenter investigations to further validate the findings of this study.

Comparison of HoLEP, ThuLEP and ThuFLEP in the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction: a propensity score-matched analysis

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy and safety of Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), Thulium laser enucleation of prostate (ThuLEP) and Thulium fibre laser enucleation of prostate (ThuFLEP) by performing propensity score matched analysis (PSM).

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed the patients who underwent HoLEP (Group 1, n = 696), ThuLEP (Group 2, n = 146) and ThuFLEP (Group 3, n = 193) surgery because of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). A 1:1:1 HoLEP: ThuLEP: ThuFLEP group matching was performed using PSM analysis. Perioperative, postoperative functional outcomes and complications were analysed and compared.

RESULTS

We observed significant improvement in functional parameters regarding IPSS, Qmax, PVR and quality of life in all groups compared to baseline values at the 1st, 6th and 12th postoperative months. There was no significant difference between different laser types in terms of urge (UUI) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) at 1st postoperative month. In all three groups, no patient had postoperative SUI or UUI at 6th and 12th postoperative months. In addition, no significant difference was observed between laser types in terms of postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

HoLEP, ThuLEP and ThuFLEP are safe and effective LEP methods with improvement in functional parameters and low complication rates. Similar results in terms of functional outcomes and complications clearly show that these surgeries are alternatives to each other for the patients with BPO. Experts' opinions, practices and enucleation techniques should also be taken into consideration when choosing a laser for BPO surgery.

A novel technique for thulium laser enucleation of the prostate: anterior releasing with ThuLEP (ARTh technique)

Thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) is a highly effective approach to the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. We present here a description of the "ARTh Technique" and the benefits it offers in terms of improved visualization, short operation times, and easy recognition of the dissection plane, describing specifically the anterior release (AR) technique using ThuLEP(Th). Included in this retrospective study were 32 consecutive patients operated on between January 2022-November 2022. Parameters were measured before and after the procedure: the International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS), maximum flow rate(Qmax), post-void residual urine(PVR) prostate-specific antigen(PSA), prostate volume, operation-time, morcellation-time, catheterization-time and presence of transient urinary incontinence, and compared. The median age of patients undergoing enucleation of the prostate using the ARTh technique was 64 years (range: 44-83). The median prostate volume of the patients was 83.5 ml(50-128 ml), preoperative-IPSS was 24.8(15-33), postoperative-IPSS was 7(5-11), preoperative-Qmax was 8.1 ml/Sects. (5-11.5 ml/sec), postoperative-Qmax was 26.9 ml/Sect. (20.8-34 ml/sec), preoperative-PVR was 145 ml(75-258 ml), postoperative-PVR was 36.2 ml(0-66 ml), total operation time was 51.4 min(28-82 min), enucleation time was 36.9 min(19-51 min) and morcellation time was 15.3 min(8-27 min). The ARTh technique is a safe procedure that allows the surgeon to easily recognize and adhere to the defined dissection plane, thus decreasing operation times, significantly reducing the rate of postoperative transient urinary incontinence (TUI).

High-power holmium laser versus thulium fiber laser for endoscopic enucleation of the prostate in patients with glands larger than 80 ml: Results from the Prostate Endoscopic EnucLeation study group

Background

Endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (EEP) has gained acceptance as an equitable alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Our primary aim is to compare peri-operative outcomes of EEP using thulium fiber laser (TFL) against high-power holmium laser (HPHL) in hands of experienced surgeons for large prostates (≥80 ml in volume). Secondary outcomes were assess complications within 1 year of follow up.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia who underwent EEP with TFL or HPHL in 13 centers (January 2019-January 2023). Patients with prostate volume ≥80 ml were included, while those with concomitant prostate cancer, previous prostate/urethral surgery, and pelvic radiotherapy were excluded.

Results

Of 1,929 included patients, HPHL was utilized in 1,459 and TFL in 470. After propensity score matching (PSM) for baseline characteristics, 247 patients from each group were analyzed. Overall operative time (90 [70, 120] vs. 52.5 [39, 93] min, P < 0.001) and enucleation time (90 [70, 105] vs. 38 [25, 70] min, P < 0.001) were longer in the TFL group, with comparable morcellation time (13 [10, 19.5] vs. 13 [10, 16.5] min, P = 0.914). In terms of postoperative outcomes, there were no differences in 30-day complications such as acute urinary retention, urinary tract infection or sepsis. In the PSM cohort, univariable analyses showed that higher age, lower preoperative Qmax, higher preoperative PVRU, and longer operation time were associated with higher odds of postoperative incontinence, while 2-lobe enucleation had lower odds of incontinence compared to 3-lobe enucleation.

Conclusions

This real-world study reaffirms that HPHL and TFL in large prostates are equally efficacious in terms of 30-day complications. TFL with the en-bloc technique has a shorter operative time which significantly improves short- and medium-term functional outcomes.

Meta-analysis of postoperative urinary incontinence incidence and risk factors in HoLEP

Objective

To systematically identify and quantify the incidence and risk factors of postoperative urinary incontinence (UI) in holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), aiming to provide a basis for intervention strategies.

Methods

Relevant studies on postoperative UI in HoLEP were searched in databases including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBase, CNKI, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, VIP and CBMdisc, with the search period up to April 2024. Titles, abstracts and full texts were screened using the Endnote application. Studies meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent quality assessment and data extraction. The incidence of postoperative UI and/or adjusted or unadjusted odds ratios (OR), relative risks or ratios were recorded, and analysis was conducted using Stata 15.0 software.

Results

A total of 17 studies encompassing 7939 patients were included. The pooled incidence of UI after HoLEP was 1.12, 95% CI (1.11-1.13); the 3-month postoperative incidence was 1.06, 95% CI (1.05-1.06); the 6-month postoperative incidence was 1.04, 95% CI (1.03-1.05); the 12-month postoperative incidence was 1.05, 95% CI (1.03-1.06); and the incidence of permanent UI after HoLEP was 1.01, 95% CI (1.00-1.01). The occurrence of UI after HoLEP exhibited a time-dependent variation. The risk factors for UI after HoLEP included the following: age (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06); body mass index (BMI; OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.20); prostate volume (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.39-2.27); prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.87-0.92); International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.83-1.07).

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate a decreasing trend in the incidence of postoperative UI after HoLEP over time, with a time-dependent change. Age, BMI, prostate volume, PSA and IPSS are risk factors for postoperative UI after HoLEP. Age and prostate volume have a significant impact on UI. Therefore, preoperative assessment and intervention for these factors are crucial in reducing the occurrence of postoperative UI in HoLEP.

Advances in lasers for the minimally invasive treatment of upper and lower urinary tract conditions: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Technological advancements in laser lithotripsy are expanding into numerous fields of urology, like ureteroscopy (URS), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), and benign and malignant soft-tissue treatments. Since the amount of research regarding lasers in urology has grown exponentially, we present a systematic review of the most recent and relevant advances encompassing all lasers used in urological endoscopic treatment.

METHODS

We performed a literature search using PubMed (May 2023) to obtain information about lasers for urological purposes. We included only recent data from published articles between 2021 and 2023 or articles ahead of print.

RESULTS

Lasers are widely used in lithotripsy for ureteric, renal, and bladder stones, benign prostate surgery, and bladder and upper tract tumor ablation. While the holmium (Ho:YAG) laser is still predominant, there seems to be more emphasis on pulse modulation and newer lasers such as thulium fiber laser (TFL) and pulsed Tm:YAG laser.

CONCLUSION

The use of lasers and related technological innovations have shown increasing versatility, and over time have proven to be invaluable in the management of stone lithotripsy, treatment of benign and malignant prostate diseases, and urothelial tumors. Laser endoscopic treatment is heavily based on technological nuances, and it is essential to know at least the basics of these technologies. Ultimately the choice of laser used depends on its availability, cost, surgeon experience and expertise.

A randomized trial of holmium laser vs thulium laser vs bipolar enucleation of large prostate glands

OBJECTIVE

To compare the outcome and morbidity of bipolar transurethral enucleation of the prostate (B-TUEP) and thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) with those of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in the treatment of large symptomatic benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) through a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial (NCT03916536).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 155 patients were recruited from a single centre between February 2019 and August 2020. All had BPO, with a prostate volume ≥80 ml. Patients were randomly assigned to HoLEP, ThuLEP or B-TUEP using computer-generated random tables in a 1:1:1 ratio. Participants, investigators and surgeons were blinded to group assignment until the date of the operation. Thereafter, the patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax ) at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included assessment of other functional urinary variables, peri-operative records, and adverse events.

RESULTS

There were 138 and 120 patients available for analysis at 6 and 12 months. There was no significant difference in Qmax between the groups at 6 and 12 months (P = 0.4 and P = 0.7, respectively), and no significant difference regarding International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL) or postvoid residual urine volume (PVR). The median (interquartile range) prostate-specific antigen (PSA) reductions (ng/ml) were similar in the three groups at last follow-up point (4.7 [2.2-7.1]; 5.6 [2.3-9.5] and 5 [3.4-10] after HoLEP, ThuLEP and B-TUEP, respectively). Differences in enucleation time, enucleation efficiencies and auxiliary manoeuvres were statistically insignificant (P = 0.1, 0.8 and 0.07, respectively). At 1 year, patients with prostate volumes >120 ml showed significant IPSS improvement in favour of HoLEP and ThuLEP (P = 0.01). Low- and high-grade adverse effects were recorded in 31 and five cases, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that ThuLEP and B-TUEP are as safe and effective as HoLEP for the treatment of large-sized BPO. Significant PSA reductions indicate that there was effective adenoma enucleation with all three approaches. The study provides objective evidence that endoscopic enucleation of the prostate is a technique rather than energy dependent procedure.

En bloc enucleation of the prostate with early apical release using a high-power (200 W) thulium device: studying a learning curve

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to reveal the learning curve of early apical release en bloc laser prostatectomy using a high-power thulium (200 W) laser device.

METHODS

We obtained data on the initial 60 patients who had thulium laser enucleation of the prostate by a single surgeon between October 2021 and August 2022 to treat the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia at our clinic. The cases were split into three groups, each consisting of 20 patients. Prostate volumes, prostate-specific antigen and hemoglobin levels, the International Prostate Symptom Score, Quality of Life scores, the International Index of Erectile Function-5 scores, and uroflowmetry parameters were documented preoperatively. The enucleation weight, the enucleation and morcellation times, as well as the efficiency, hospitalization, and catheterization durations were calculated. The patients were re-evaluated at 6 months postoperatively, examined for functional results, and compared to baseline conditions.

RESULTS

Enucleation times, morcellation times, enucleation weight, and enucleation efficiency were significantly different among the groups. However, there was no statistically significant difference in total operative time and morcellation efficiency. In terms of postoperative statistics, the reduction in hemoglobin was significantly greater in Group 1 compared to Group 2. Six months after surgery, all groups had comparable validated ratings (International Prostate Symptom Score, Quality of Life, and the International Index of Erectile Function-5) on postoperative examinations. There were no long-term complications in either group throughout the perioperative period.

CONCLUSION

Completing 40 first cases would be sufficient for managing the learning curve for early apical release en bloc thulium laser enucleation of the prostate.

Surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: Thulium enucleation versus single-port transvesical robotic simple prostatectomy

Objective

The objective of this work is to compare our outcomes using thulium laser enucleation of prostate (ThuLEP) to the single-port robot-assisted simple prostatectomy (SP RASP) in the surgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2017 through December 2021 of men who underwent SP RASP and ThuLEP performed by a single surgeon with an enucleation experience of >300 cases and extensive robotic experience. The primary outcome was changed in International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were operative time, length of stay (LOS), change in post-void residuals (PVR), de novo stress- or urge-urinary incontinence (SUI, UUI), and rate of complications.

Results

One hundred two patients underwent surgery during the study period: 33 RASP and 69 ThuLEP. There was no difference in preoperative characteristics, including age and body mass index, between both groups. Changes in IPSS scores postoperatively were not significant between SP RASP versus ThuLEP (-17 vs. -14, p = 0.2956). SP RASP had a longer operative time (180 vs. 90 min, p < 0.0001). There was no difference in LOS (0 vs. 0 days, p = 0.2904). There was no difference in change in PVR (-96 vs. -91 mL, p = 0.8504). SP RASP patients had significantly less postoperative SUI than ThuLEP (0 vs. 13 patients, p = 0.0083), while there was no difference in UUI between both groups (4 vs. 2 patients, p = 0.0843). There was no difference in 30-day complication rate (21.2% vs. 21.7%, p = 0.9517), although there were three ThuLEP patients with Clavien-Dindo Class III or higher complication.

Conclusions

There was no difference in change in IPSS scores between the two groups. ThuLEP is associated with shorter postoperative catheter days and decreased operative times. Hospital LOS was equivalent. SP RASP demonstrates significantly improved continence rates. Though SP RASP is within the initial learning curve at our institution, early results demonstrate the role for this modality alongside ThuLEP in the treatment of large gland BPH.

Endoscopic Conservative Treatment of Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma with a Thulium Laser: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Thulium lasers (TLs), namely the Thulium fiber laser (TFL) and the Thulium:YAG (Tm:YAG), are being increasingly adopted for the conservative treatment of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). However, to date, the real clinical impact of TLs on UTUC management remains not well-characterized. We performed a review of the literature to summarize the current evidence on TLs for UTUC treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a systematic review in January 2023 using the Embase and Medline online databases, according to the PRISMA recommendations and using the PICO criteria. Outcomes of interest were: (i) to assess the safety and feasibility of TLs in the treatment of UTUC, and (ii) to evaluate the oncological outcomes in terms of tumor recurrence and conservative treatment failure. Moreover, we described TL characteristics and its interaction with soft tissue.

RESULTS

a total of 458 articles were screened, and six full texts including 273 patients were identified. All the included studies were retrospective series. Mean patient age ranged from 66 to 73 years. The indication of a conservative treatment was elective and imperative in 21.7-85% and 15-76% of cases, respectively. Laser power settings varied from 5 to 50 W. No intraoperative complications were reported, and all the procedures were successfully performed. The tumor recurrence rate was 17.7-44%, and the indication to radical nephroureterectomy was 3.7-44% during a follow-up of 6-50 months. Most of the postoperative complications were mild and transient, and ureteral strictures were reported in two studies. Major limitations were the retrospective nature of the studies, the small sample sizes, and the short follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

TL is an effective and safe technology for endoscopic UTUC treatment. However, current available literature lacks prospective and multicentric studies with large population sizes and long-term follow-up.

Predictive factors affecting morcellation efficiency in holmium laser enucleation of the prostate

PURPOSE

To determine the factors affecting morcellation efficiency in holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent HoLEP surgery by a single surgeon between 2018 and 2022 were included in the study. Our primary outcome of interest in this study was morcellation efficiency. The effect of preoperative and perioperative variables on morcellation efficiency was evaluated with linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 410 patients were included in the study. The mean morcellation efficiency was 6.95±1.70 g/min. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors affecting morcellation efficiency. Presence of the "beach ball" effect (small, round prostatic tissue fragments that are fibrotic and difficult to morcellate), the learning curve, resectoscope sheath type, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density, morcellated tissue weight, and the presence of prostate calcification were found to be independent predictive factors (β=-1.107, 95% CI: -1.59 to -0.55, p<0.001; β=-0.514, 95% CI: -0.85 to -0.17, p=0.003; β=-0.394, 95% CI: -0.65 to -0.13, p=0.003; β=-0.302, 95% CI: -0.59 to -0.09, p=0.043; β=0.062, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.06, p<0.001; β=-0.329, 95% CI: -0.55 to -0.10, p=0.004; respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study reports that presence of the beach ball effect, the learning curve, small resectoscope sheath, PSA density, and presence of prostate calcification negatively affect morcellation efficiency. On the contrary, morcellated tissue weight has a linear relationship with morcellation efficiency.

Comparison of the short-term efficacy and safety of bipolar transurethral electro vaporization and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for moderate and large benign prostatic enlargement

BACKGROUND

To compare the efficacy and safety of bipolar transurethral vaporization of the prostate (B-TUVP) with holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for moderate [prostate volume (PV) 30-80 ml] and large (≥ 80 ml) benign prostatic enlargement (BPE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male patients with lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) or urinary retention who underwent B-TUVP or HoLEP treatment in two regional centers were respectively enrolled. Patient characteristics and treatment outcomes were retrospectively compared between B-TUVP and HoLEP.

RESULTS

In patients with moderate and large prostate volume,B-TUVP showed shorter operative time (P < 0.001) and less hemoglobin decrease (P < 0.001) than in HoLEP. In uncatheterised patients, voiding symptoms and patients' quality of life improved after B-TUVP and HoLEP, but these improvement rates were consistently bigger in HoLEP than in B-TUVP. In catheterised patients, the rate of achieving catheter-free status after surgery was higher in HoLEP than in B-TUVP for patients with PV > 80 ml.(P < 0.001) The incidence of postoperative fever was higher in B-TUVP than in HoLEP for patients with PV 30-80 ml (P < 0.001) but not for those with PV > 80 ml.(P=0.08) The Incidence of postoperative stress incontinence(SUI) was higher in HoLEP than in B-TUVP for patients with moderate and large prostate volume.

CONCLUSIONS

There are few studies that investigated the short-term efficacy and safety of second-generation B-TUVP in comparison with HoLEP for moderate and large BPE. Improvement in LUTS and achievement of catheter-free status were predominant in HoLEP, and these outcomes were more prominent in patients with large BPE of PV > 80 ml. However, B-TUVP resulted in less blood loss, shorter operative duration, and less SUI suggesting that B-TUVP is also well-tolerated surgical modality.

Network Meta-Analysis of the Treatment Safety and Efficacy of Different Lasers in Prostate Enucleation

Purpose: This study aimed to compare different laser systems for the enucleation of benign prostate hyperplasia. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on different lasers for prostate enucleation were searched from PubMed, Embase, and CNKI databases. Pairwise and network meta-analyis (NMA) were performed to analyze the outcome regarding surgery time, complications, short-term postvoid residual (PVR), long-term PVR, and short-term international prostate symptom score (IPSS), long-term IPSS, short-term maximum urine flow rate (Qmax), and long-term Qmax. RevMan software was used for paired meta-analysis. Considering the variance uncertainty caused by the different source regions of RCTs and the different primary conditions of surgeons and patients, this study uses Bayesian NMA conducted with ADDIS software to compare different treatment methods indirectly. Node-splitting analysis was used to test inconsistency for closed-loop indirect comparison. Results: Nine studies were included in this study, involving four types of lasers: diode laser, holmium laser, thulium laser, and greenlight laser. In safety paired meta-analysis, holmium laser could bring more complication risk than thulium laser (odds ratio: 2.70, 95% confidential interval [CI]: 1.79-4.00, p < 0.001), and no other significant result was detected. In the efficacy comparisons, holmium laser could offer better postoperative long-term PVR (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.35, 95%CI: -0.62, -0.09, p = 0.011), better postoperative long-term IPSS (SMD: -0.30, 95%CI: -0.57, -0.04, p = 0.011), better postoperative short-term Qmax (SMD: 0.44, 95%CI: 0.17, 0.70, p = 0.001) compared with greenlight laser. According to the results of NMA, greenlight laser may bring more complication risks when applied to prostate enucleation than the other three lasers. Thulium laser may be the recommended laser system for prostate enucleation. Conclusion: Thulium laser may be the recommended laser system since it can bring less complication risk with comparable efficacy. More RCTs are still needed to validate this study.

Incidence and risk factors for postoperative urinary incontinence after various prostate enucleation procedures: systemic review and meta-analysis of PubMed literature from 2000 to 2021

PURPOSE

To evaluate the risk of urinary incontinence (UI) after various prostate enucleation procedures (PEP).

METHODS

PubMed was searched from January 2000 to July 2021 for studies investigating UI after PEP. The articles were divided into 5 subgroups: holmium, thulium, greenlight laser, electrocautery, and simple prostatectomy. Meta-analysis was performed to examine rate of stress (SUI), urge (UUI) or unspecified UI at short (< 3 months), intermediate (3-6 months), and long-term (> 6 months). The impact of age, prostate size, surgery time, laser time, postoperative nadir PSA level and technical modifications on UI was analyzed.

RESULTS

Most (69.4%) of 49 articles included employed holmium laser. There was no significant difference in incidence of short-, intermediate-, and long-term UI, SUI and UUI between five sub-groups and within different technical modifications. Although not statistically significant, the incidence of UI was higher (15%) at short-term with green-light and simple prostatectomy (95% CI 9-23 and 1-84), and higher (4%) at intermediate-term with holmium laser (95% CI 2-8). SUI was more prevalent at short-term with holmium laser (4%; 95% CI 2-5%), and at intermediate term with simple prostatectomy (3%; 95% CI 1-14). UUI was higher in the thulium group (10%, 95% CI 7-16). Increased age, surgery time, laser time and prostate size up to 80 cc were associated with higher UI. There was no correlation between postoperative PSA and UI.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no significant difference in incidence of UI, SUI and UUI after various PEP. Patients age, prostate size, surgery and laser time are linearly associated with UI.

Ejaculation Sparing Thulium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate: An Observational Prospective Study

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is a condition that appears with advancing age and affects 1/3 of men over 50 years, resulting in filling and emptying symptoms. One of the main limitations of endoscopic techniques for BPH is the occurrence of retrograde ejaculation. The purpose of this prospective observational study is to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of ejaculation-sparing thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ES-ThuLEP) in the treatment of BPH-related LUTS and the preservation of ejaculation. Sexually active patients with BPH were enrolled and followed up with at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Personal and pharmacological histories were collected, while three standardized questionnaires—the International Index of Erectile Function short form (IIEF-5), the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire for Male Sexual Matters Associated with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Module (ICIQ—MLUTSsex), and the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS)—were administered. In addition, all patients underwent uroflowmetry and an assessment of post-void residual volume (PVR). A total of 53 patients were enrolled. A statistically significant improvement in the IPSS score, maximum flow (Qmax), and post-void volume (PVR) at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery was found (p < 0.05), while no statistically significant differences were reported between IIEF-5 scores before and after surgery. A total of 48 patients (88.6%) had preserved ejaculation at 3 months, while 92.4% and 94.3% of patients reported preserved ejaculation at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Nevertheless, some degree of hypoposia was referred, at 3, 6, and 12 months, by 43.7%, 30.6%, and 13.2% of patients, respectively. The ES-ThuLEP technique successfully preserved ejaculation in over 90% of patients, representing an ejaculation-sparing alternative in the treatment of BPH.

The effectiveness and safety of three surgical procedures for the treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia: A network meta-analysis

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia using a network Meta-analysis.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials of TURP, HoLEP and ThuLEP for benign prostatic hyperplasia were collected by computerized searches of databases including CNKI, WANFANG, VIP, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, the Web of Science and Embase, with a search time frame of build to January 2022. The literature was screened and data was extracted by two investigators separately, while the risk of bias of the included studies was evaluated before systematic evaluation and network meta-analysis using ADDIS 1.16.8 software and RevMan 5.3 software.

Results

A total of 27 RCTs with a total of 3335 patients were involved. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that ThuLEP was better than the remaining two procedures in terms of enhancing patients' subjective perception and improving objective indicators, and the incidence of adverse events such as postoperative urethral stricture and urinary incontinence was lower compared with that of conventional TURP in both short- and long-term postoperative follow-ups.

Conclusion

As ThuLEP is effective, safe, and featured with few postoperative complications, it can be the preferred surgical procedure for prostate enlargement. Nevertheless, because of the limited number of studies included, more-sample, multicenter, double-blind clinical randomized controlled trials are required in the future to further verify the findings of the present study.

Comparison of outcomes of holmium laser versus bipolar enucleation of prostates weighing >80 g with bladder outlet obstruction

Transurethral enucleation of the prostate has been increasingly recognized as an effective minimally invasive technique for management of enlarged prostates. We aimed to compare holmium laser enucleation (HoLEP) and bipolar transurethral enucleation (B-TUEP) of large-volume prostates. A prospectively maintained database in two tertiary referral centers was reviewed for patients with HoLEP and B-TUEP for prostates >80 g. Operative data, perioperative complications, and early postoperative outcomes were compared. The study included 101 patients, 70 who underwent HoLEP and 31 who underwent B-TUEP. The operative enucleation rate (weight of adenoma enucleated in g/min) was higher in HoLEP compared to B-TUEP (P < 0.0001). The operative complication rate, hemoglobin drop, and readmission rate were comparable in both groups (P = 0.13, 0.35, 0.29, 0.59, respectively). The HoLEP arm had a shorter hospital stay and shorter catheterization time (P = 0.001, 0.012). Follow-up data showed a lower International Prostate Symptom Score and serum prostate-specific antigen level in the HoLEP group. The incontinence rate was comparable in both groups. In conclusion, both techniques were effective in managing a high-volume prostate, although HoLEP had a shorter enucleation time, better symptom score, lower postoperative prostate-specific antigen level, shorter catheterization time, and shorter hospital stay compared to B-TUEP.

Functional and surgical outcomes of Aquablation in elderly men

PURPOSE

As benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related process, growing interest in surgical management for elderly men has emerged. Recently, Aquablation was approved for treatment of BPH associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and utilizes robotic ultrasound guided surgeon-controlled waterjet ablation. We assessed the differences in functional and surgical outcomes between elderly and young men undergoing Aquablation for BPH/LUTS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively assessed prospectively collected data from the WATER I (NCT02505919) and WATER II (NCT03123250) clinical trials reporting safety and efficacy of Aquablation in the treatment of LUTS/BPH in men 45-80 years with a prostate between 30 and 80 cc, and 80 cc and 150 cc, respectively. Men ≥ 65 years were defined as elderly and men < 65 years as young.

RESULTS

Of 217 patients included, 83 (38.2%) were young and 134 (61.8%) were elderly. Mean age (SD) was 59.3 (± 3.4) years and 71.2 (± 4.2) years for young and elderly men, respectively. At 3 years of follow-up compared to baseline, elderly men showed similar reductions in total IPSS (7.68 points vs 7.12 points, p > 0.05) and similar increases in Qmax (20.6 mL/s vs 19.3 mL/s, p > 0.05) compared to young men. The ejaculatory dysfunction rate was similar for both cohorts (12.0% vs 9.7%, p > 0.05). Elderly men experienced similar annual retreatment rates compared to young men (1.5% vs 0.8% p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly men undergoing Aquablation have similar functional and surgical outcomes as young men. Elderly patient BPH surgical counseling should, therefore, consider Aquablation as a treatment option for LUTS/BPH.

Treatment with CoreTherm in 570 patients with prostate volumes of 80-366 ml: an evaluation of short- and long-term retreatment risk

INTRODUCTION

CoreTherm (ProstaLund AB, Lund, Sweden) is an outpatient treatment option in men with lower urinary tract symptoms and catheter-dependent men with chronic urinary retention caused by benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). CoreTherm is high-energy transurethral microwave thermotherapy with feedback technique. Modern treatment with CoreTherm includes transurethral intraprostatic injections of mepivacaine and adrenaline via the Schelin Catheter (ProstaLund AB, Lund, Sweden) and is often referred to as the CoreTherm Concept.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term retreatment risk in men with large prostates and BPO or chronic urinary retention, all primarily treated with CoreTherm.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All men from the same geographical area with prostate volumes ≥ 80 ml treated 1999-2015 with CoreTherm and having BPO or were catheter-dependent due to chronic urinary retention, were included. End of study period was defined as December 31, 2019.

RESULTS

We identified and evaluated 570 men treated with CoreTherm, where 12% (71 patients) were surgically retreated during the follow-up. Mean follow-up was 11 years, and maximum follow-up was 20 years. The long-term retreatment rate in our study was 23%. A majority of these could be retreated with CoreTherm or TURP, with only 3% requiring open surgery.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that CoreTherm is a suitable outpatient treatment option in patients with profoundly enlarged prostates, regardless of age, prostate size, and reason for treatment.

Surgical treatment options for benign prostatic obstruction: beyond prostate volume

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Many surgical treatment options are available for patients who present with benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). This article reviews the current treatment options available and distinguishes them based on five clinical considerations: antithrombotic therapy, sexual function preservation, ambulatory procedures, anesthesia-related risks and duration of catheterization.

RECENT FINDINGS

A comprehensive review of the literature was performed on 10 BPO procedures. Laser enucleation of the prostate (LEP), bipolar plasma transurethral vaporization of the prostate and photoselective vaporization (PVP) of the prostate reduces the risk of bleeding, which is recommended for anticoagulated men. Ejaculatory function is more likely to be preserved following transurethral incision of the prostate, Rezūm, Aquablation, UroLift and iTind. Same-day discharge is possible for LEP, PVP and prostatic arterial embolization (PAE). For patients with high anesthesia-related risks, procedures compatible with local anesthesia (UroLift, Rezūm, iTind and PAE) should be favored. Catheterization duration is shorter with UroLift, PVP and LEP.

SUMMARY

BPO treatment options are growing rapidly. The optimal procedure for a given patient is based on factors such as associated risks, recovery and expected outcomes. Besides prostate volume, the clinical considerations in the present article can help elucidate the best surgical BPO treatment option for each patient based on their values, preferences, and risk tolerance.

Laser enucleation for prostates larger than 100 mL: Comparison of HoLEP and ThuLEP

Recently, with the advancements in laser technology, Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and Thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) have come to the fore in the surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We aimed to evaluate and compare the outcomes of HoLEP and ThuLEP in patients with >100 ml prostate volume. Patients who underwent HoLEP and ThuLEP between July 2017 and March 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups as HoLEP (Group 1, n = 121) and ThuLEP (Group 2, n = 104). Perioperative parameters, functional outcomes, continence status, intra and post-operative complications were compared between groups in the post-operative 1st and 6th month. No significant difference was found in terms of total laser energy (TLE), morcellation efficiency (ME), enucleated tissue weight (ETW), complication rates (CR) and continence status of patients between both groups (p > .05). In favour of ThuLEP group, there were statistically significant differences regarding total operation time (TOT), laser efficiency (LE), enucleation time (ET) and enucleation efficiency (EE) between groups (p ≤ .05). HoLEP and ThuLEP can be used safely and effectively in prostates larger than 100 ml.

Reasons to go for thulium-based anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate

PURPOSE

To summarize the current evidence and the reasons to go for thulium-based anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (AEEP).

METHODS

This review discusses the available literature on thulium-based AEEP.

RESULTS

Thulium lasers operate at a wavelength between 1940 and 2013 nm. This wavelength, which has a low penetration depth in water, allows to perform smooth cuts in the prostatic tissue and allows urologists to perform various procedures: resection, vaporization, enucleation, or vapoenucleation of the prostate. Depending on the type of thulium laser, it can be used either in a continuous, or pulsed mode.

CONCLUSION

In recent years, an increasing amount of evidence has described the thulium laser as a minimally invasive and size-independent treatment option for benign prostatic enlargement with excellent long-term results.

Holmium Versus Thulium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

CONTEXT

Holmium (HoLEP) and thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) are the two methods most commonly applied for endoscopic enucleation of the prostate. It remains unclear which of the two is superior in terms of outcome and complications.

OBJECTIVE

To compare perioperative and functional outcomes between HoLEP and ThuLEP.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration and in line with the PRISMA criteria. A comprehensive database search including MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and CENTRAL was conducted according to the PICO criteria. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were considered. All review steps were conducted by two independent reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed using the revised Cochrane tool for RCTs.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The search identified 556 studies, of which four were eligible for qualitative and quantitative analysis, reporting on a total of 579 patients with follow-up of up to 18 months. No significant differences in operating time, enucleation weight, catheterization time, or hospital stay were observed between ThuLEP and HoLEP. The decrease in hemoglobin was significantly lower for ThuLEP (mean difference -0.54 g/dl, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.93 to -0.15; p < 0.001), but with low certainty of evidence. Transient urinary incontinence was more common for HoLEP (odds ratio 0.56, 95% CI 0.32-0.99; p = 0.045), again with low certainty of evidence. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed for other complications or for functional measures and symptom scores.

CONCLUSIONS

ThuLEP and HoLEP offer comparable improvement in symptoms and postoperative voiding parameters. Both procedures are safe and major complications are rare. ThuLEP showed minor advantages for blood loss and the incidence of transient incontinence. This should be interpreted with caution owing to the low certainty of evidence. Therefore, treatment choice should be based on surgeon expertise and local conditions.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We reviewed four clinical trials that compared holmium and thulium lasers for treatment to reduce the size of the prostate gland. Our review assessed outcomes and complications. We found that both laser techniques are safe and suitable for reducing symptoms due to an enlarged prostate. Blood loss and short-lasting urinary incontinence were slightly lower after thulium compared to holmium laser treatment.

Ejaculation-sparing versus non-ejaculation-sparing anatomic GreenLight laser enucleo-vaporization of the prostate: first comparative study

PURPOSE

To present the step-by-step description of an ejaculation-sparing anatomic photo-selective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) technique. To report the results of a series of ejaculation-sparing versus non-ejaculation-sparing anatomic PVPs.

METHODS

Sexually active, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients undergoing an anatomic PVP between 11/2018 and 2/2020 were included. Patients were divided into group A (ejaculation-sparing surgery) and group B (control group). Baseline, peri-operative and 6-months follow-up data were evaluated. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and sexual function were assessed through internationally validated questionnaires. Groups were matched by an inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis. Logistic univariable regression analysis was performed to detect predictors of antegrade ejaculation preservation.

RESULTS

Overall, 76 patients were included, among which 15 in group A and 61 in group B. Median (inter-quartile range, IQR) age was 72 (66.5-77) years, median (IQR) prostate volume 63.5 (54.5-98.5) cc. No differences about peri-operative outcomes were detected, included high-grade complications. At 6-months follow-up, no differences in urinary or erectile function were detected between groups, while ejaculation-sparing patients showed better Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ) scores [7 (1-13) vs. 1 (1-1), p < 0.001] and higher rates of antegrade ejaculation (60% vs. 13.1%, p < 0.001). The ejaculation-sparing technique was identified as a predictor of post-operative antegrade ejaculation (OR 19.3, CI 95% 7.2-51.2, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The ejaculation-sparing anatomic PVP showed superiority over the control group in post-operative ejaculatory function scores and antegrade ejaculation rates. Besides, preliminary results suggested similar effectiveness in LUTS relief at a short-term follow-up.