Functional outcomes and complications following B-TURP versus HoLEP for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a review of the literature and Meta-analysis

Safety and Clinical Efficacy of Prostatic Artery Embolization in Patients with Indwelling Urinary Catheter for Benign Hyperplasia-A Multicenter Study

Background/Objectives: This multicentric study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) to remove indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Secondary objectives were to identify features associated with post-PAE catheter-free survival (PCFS). Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent PAE for IUC related to BPH with a follow-up of at least 2 years (except for early death) in 6 French University Hospitals were retrospectively included. Clinical efficacy was defined as the removal of the IUC after PAE (through a trial without catheter [TWOC]) and evaluated at regular intervals. Chi-square tests, Wilcoxon tests and multivariable binary logistic regressions were utilized to investigate predictors of TWOC success. Univariable and multivariable Cox regressions were utilized to investigate predictors of PCFS in patients with TWOC success. Results: 140 men with IUC (median age: 82.5 years, interquartile range [IQR] = 73-88.2 years, range: 46-100) who underwent PAE between January 2017 and March 2021 were included. Initial successful catheter removal (TWOC success) following PAE occurred in 113/140 (80.7%) patients, and 3/140 (2.1%) patients encountered major complications. In patients with TWOC success, PCFS at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years were 87.5% (95%CI: 81.4-94.1), 84.4% (95%CI: 77.7-91.7) and 79% (71.3-87.4), respectively. No independent predictive factors for TWOC success and PCFS were identified. Conclusions: PAE should be considered as a safe option with good clinical efficacy in the short and long term for elderly and inoperable patients with IUC due to symptomatic BPH.

Reoperation after surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review

Context

Surgical treatment is important for male lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) management, but there are few reviews of the risks of reoperation.

Objective

To systematically evaluate the current evidence regarding the reoperation rates of surgical treatment for LUTS in accordance with current recommendations and guidelines.

Evidence acquisition

Eligible studies published up to July 2023, were searched for in the PubMed® (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA), Embase® (Elsevier, Amsterdam, the Netherlands), and Web of Science™ (Clarivate™, Philadelphia, PA, USA) databases. STATA® (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, USA) software was used to conduct the meta-analysis. Random-effects models were used to calculate the pooled incidences (PIs) of reoperation and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Evidence synthesis

A total of 119 studies with 130,106 patients were included. The reoperation rate of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 4.0%, 5.0%, 6.0%, and 7.7%, respectively. The reoperation rate of plasma kinetic loop resection of the prostate (PKRP) at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 3.5%, 3.6%, 5.7%, and 6.6%, respectively. The reoperation rate of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 2.4%, 3.3%, 5.4%, and 6.6%, respectively. The reoperation rate of photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 3.3%, 4.1%, 6.7%, and 7.1%, respectively. The reoperation rate of surgery with AquaBeam® at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 2.6%, 3.1%, 3.0%, and 4.1%, respectively. The reoperation rate of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 12.2%, 20.0%, 26.4%, and 23.8%, respectively. The reoperation rate of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years was 9.9%, 19.9%, 23.3%, and 31.2%, respectively. The reoperation rate of transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) at 5 years was 13.4%. The reoperation rate of open prostatectomy (OP) at 1 and 5 years was 1.3% and 4.4%, respectively. The reoperation rate of thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) at 1, 2, and 5 years was 3.7%, 7.7%, and 8.4%, respectively.

Conclusion

Our results summarized the reoperation rates of 10 surgical procedures over follow-up durations of 1, 2, 3, and 5 years, which could provide reference for urologists and LUTS patients.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023445780.

The Efficacy and Safety of Holmium Laser Enucleation of Prostate Compared With Bipolar Technologies in Treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 10 Randomized Controlled Trials

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on efficacy and safety of holmium laser enucleation of prostate compared with bipolar technologies in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia. We analyzed several databases such PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently reviewed studies for consistent criteria and extracted relevant data. Reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias and strength of the evidence for the body of the literature. Ten randomized controlled trials including 1,157 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The holmium laser group had favorable perioperative outcomes in this study. The holmium laser group identified shorter catheterization duration and shorter hospital stay duration than the bipolar technologies group. Efficiency outcomes, such as International Prostate Symptom Score, peak urinary flow rate, quality of life, postvoid residual urine volume, and international index of erectile function reported no obvious differences between the holmium laser and bipolar technologies groups at the 6 to 12 months follow-up. Bipolar technologies and holmium laser groups shared equivalent effectiveness and safety in treatments for benign prostate hyperplasia. Holmium lasers identified lower catheter times, shorter hospital stays, and lesser risk of hemorrhage than bipolar technologies.

The significance of the extent of tissue embedding for the detection of incidental prostate carcinoma on transurethral prostate resection material: the more, the better?

The aim of this study is to investigate the incidental prostate cancer (iPCa) detection rates of different embedding methods in a large, contemporary cohort of patients with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) treated with transurethral surgery. We relied on an institutional tertiary-care database to identify BOO patients who underwent either transurethral loop resection or laser (Holmium:yttrium–aluminium garnet) enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) between 01/2012 and 12/2019. Embedding methods differed with regard to the extent of the additional prostate tissue submitted following the first ten cassettes of primary embedding (cohort A: one [additional] cassette/10 g residual tissue vs. cohort B: complete embedding of the residual tissue). Detection rates of iPCa among the different embedding methods were compared. Subsequently, subgroup analyses by embedding protocol were repeated in HoLEP-treated patients only. In the overall cohort, the iPCa detection rate was 11% (46/420). In cohort A (n = 299), tissue embedding resulted in a median of 8 cassettes/patient (range 1–38) vs. a median of 15 (range 2–74) in cohort B (n = 121) (p < .001). The iPCa detection rate was 8% (23/299) and 19% (23/121) in cohort A vs. cohort B, respectively (p < .001). Virtual reduction of the number of tissue cassettes to ten cassettes resulted in a iPCa detection rate of 96% in both cohorts, missing one stage T1a/ISUP grade 1 carcinoma. Increasing the number of cassettes by two and eight cassettes, respectively, resulted in a detection rate of 100% in both cohorts without revealing high-grade carcinomas. Subgroup analyses in HoLEP patients confirmed these findings, demonstrated by a 100 vs. 96% iPCa detection rate following examination of the first ten cassettes, missing one case of T1a/ISUP 1. Examination of 8 additional cassettes resulted in a 100% detection rate. The extent of embedding of material obtained from transurethral prostate resection correlates with the iPCa detection rate. However, the submission of 10 cassettes appears to be a reasonable threshold to reduce resource utilization while maintaining secure cancer detection.

“Fenestration and Tunnel Method” a Modification for the Holmium Laser Transurethral Prostatectomy of Large-Volume Prostates >80 ml: A Retrospective Study Based on 1-Year Follow-Up

The purpose of this study was to promote the holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) technology for large-volume prostates (>80 ml) and compare it with the traditional method, we modified the technique and applied this technology to clinical practice. A retrospective study comprising 118 patients who underwent HoLEP surgery from February 2018 to December 2019 was conducted in our center. Group A consisted of 57 patients with large-volume prostate (>80 ml) who received modified “fenestration and tunnel method” from February 2019 till December 2019, while group B consisted of 61 patients who received the traditional trivalvular operation method from February 2018 to December 2018 for comparison. Control subjects are selected such that they match the cases concerning certain characteristics, and perioperative data, voiding outcomes, and complications were evaluated at 1- and 12-month follow-up. The international prostatic symptomatic score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), and maximum flow rate (Qmax) at 1 month and 12 months were both significantly improved compared with the preoperative baseline, and no significant differences were found between Groups A and B. The mean enucleation time, operation time, catheter indwelling duration, and hemoglobin decrease during the operation of Group A showed superiority compared with Group B (p<.05). The modified “fenestration and tunnel method” of HoLEP was statistically superior to the traditional trivalvular method in terms of the operation time, enucleation time, catheter indwelling duration, and hemoglobin decrease. For large-volume prostates (>80 ml), modified HoLEP was suggested to be a better treatment option.

The Design and Rationale of a Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Transperineal Percutaneous Laser Ablation With Transurethral Resection of the Prostate for Treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Background: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is regarded as the “gold standard” for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in elderly men. However, ~15% of patients who had undergone TURP had intraoperative and postoperative complications, such as bleeding, urinary incontinence and urethral stricture. Transperineal percutaneous laser ablation (TPLA) is a method that places the optical fibre directly into the prostate with the guidance of ultrasound imaging, and the percutaneous transperineal approach is performed distal to the urethra and rectum to protect these structures and reduce urethral or postoperative infection. Several studies on TPLA for BPH treatment have been reported recently; however, high-quality randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate its efficacy, safety, and long-term follow up remain absent.

Methods: This study is a multicentre, open-label RCT to assess the efficacy and safety of TPLA vs. TURP to treat BPH. We hypothesise that the TPLA has non-inferior efficacy to TURP in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) at 3 months changing from the baseline and lower incidence of post-surgery complications. One hundred and fourteen patients with BPH will be recruited at 19 sites and randomly assigned at 1:1 to TPLA or TURP groups. The patients will be followed up at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after the procedure.

Discussion: The study will be the first multicentre clinical trial including 16 participating centres in China, Italy, Switzerland, and Poland with relatively large sample size 114. By comprehensively compare the safety and efficacy of TPLA with TURP in patients with BPH, especially concerning the improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and complication incidence, the study will help to illustrate the clinical value of TPLA and provide a beneficial alternative treatment for BPH patients.

Clinical Trial Registration: The study has been registered on Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn), identifier [ChiCTR1900022739].

A Preliminary, Multicenter, Prospective and Real World Study on the Hemostasis, Coagulation, and Safety of Hemocoagulase Bothrops Atrox in Patients Undergoing Transurethral Bipolar Plasmakinetic Prostatectomy

Objective: To evaluate the hemostasis and coagulation effect of Hemocoagulase Bothrops Atrox in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients undergoing transurethral bipolar plasmakinetic prostatectomy (TUPKP).

Methods: This study adopted a multicenter, prospective, and real world design. BPH patients undergoing TUPKP were divided into two groups according to whether they adopted Hemocoagulase Bothrops Atrox (group B) or not (group A) during perioperative period. The electronic clinical data on every included subject, including the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) and the quality of life scale (QoL), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), complete blood count, coagulation screening test and adverse events, were measured and compared between the two groups.

Results: Finally, 695 patients, 443 in group A and 252 in group B were included. Baseline characteristics showed no significant difference between two groups. In group A, compared with baseline, IPSS decreased 15.66 (95% CI = −16.45 to −14.87), QoL decreased 3.08 (95% CI = −3.30 to −2.87), prothrombin time prolonged 1.02 s (95% CI = 0.56 to 1.48), while white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and hemoglobin also significantly changed; white blood cells, neutrophils and platelets increased, while lymphocytes decreased by 0.14×109/L (95% CI = −0.21 to −0.08) before discharge. In group B, compared with baseline, IPSS decreased 16.12 (95% CI = −17.02 to −15.21), QoL decreased 3.32 (95% CI = −3.56 to −3.07), and white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and hemoglobin were also significantly changed, along with white blood cells and lymphocytes that tested before discharge (p < 0.01); however, prothrombin time was not significant prolonged (MD= 0.48, 95% CI = −0.05 to 1.01). When compared with group A and group B, the average hospitalization time in group A was longer than group B (p < 0.01), transfusion risk was similar in the two groups (OR = 1.582, 95% CI = 0.552 to 4.538). Parameters had no substantial difference between the two subgroups whether prostate volume was more than 80 mL or not.

Conclusion: Our study indicated that Hemocoagulase Bothrops Atrox can shorten the prothrombin time, hospitalization time and is probably safe among BPH patients undergoing TUPKP, exhibiting fine hemostasis and coagulation efficacy, and would not be influenced by prostate volume.

Epidemiology and treatment modalities for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common conditions affecting men. BPH can lead to a number of symptoms for patients commonly referred to as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Over the last decade, increased modifiable risk factors, such as metabolic disease and obesity, have resulted in an increased incidence of BPH. This increasing incidence has brought about a multitude of treatment modalities in the last two decades. With so many treatment modalities available, physicians are tasked with selecting the optimal therapy for their patients. Current therapies can first be divided into medical or surgical intervention. Medical therapy for BPH includes 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and alpha-blockers, or a combination of both. Surgical interventions include a conventional transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), as well as newer modalities such as bipolar TURP, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), Greenlight and thulium laser, and prostatic urethral lift (PUL). Emerging therapies in this field must also be further investigated for safety and efficacy. This narrative review attempts to consolidate current and emerging treatment options for BPH and highlights the need for additional investigation on optimizing treatment selection.

Lasers versus bipolar technology in the transurethral treatment of benign prostatic enlargement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies

PURPOSE

To systematically review studies comparing the overall efficacy and safety of lasers and bipolar technology for the transurethral treatment of benign prostatic enlargement (BPE).

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was completed in February 2018. Studies with comparative data between different lasers and bipolar technologies (enucleation or resection) were included in this review. A meta-analysis was performed using STATA 14.0, and subgroup analyses were also performed regarding the type of laser (holmium, thulium, green light and diode).

RESULTS

27 studies with 31 published articles (4382 patients) were selected for the meta-analysis. Compared with bipolar technology, lasers demonstrated shorter catheterization duration (standardized mean difference (SMD): 1.44; 95% CI 1.07-1.81; p < 0.001) and shorter hospital stay (SMD: 1.16; 95% CI 0.83-1.49; p < 0.001), and a smaller drop in hemoglobin (Hb) level (SMD: 0.86; 95% CI 0.47-1.26; p < 0.001). However, significant heterogeneity was detected in the studies and statistical significance was lost on sub-analyses. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between lasers and bipolar technology in the maximum flow rate (Qmax) and international prostate symptom score (IPSS) at a minimum of 3 months after treatment. Complications, including urethral stricture, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection, re-catheterization and blood transfusion, did not significantly differ between lasers and bipolar technology.

CONCLUSION

Early efficacy and safety profiles were comparable between bipolar and laser treatments. Differences were observed in terms of smaller reduction in Hb, shorter catheterization duration and shorter hospital stay in favor of lasers. However, the smaller reduction in Hb, with lasers, did not translate into reduced transfusion requirements. Furthermore, there was significant heterogeneity in the studies and, in subgroup analyses, the differences were not statistically significant.

Heritability and genome-wide association study of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in the eMERGE network

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) results in a significant public health burden due to the morbidity caused by the disease and many of the available remedies. As much as 70% of men over 70 will develop BPH. Few studies have been conducted to discover the genetic determinants of BPH risk. Understanding the biological basis for this condition may provide necessary insight for development of novel pharmaceutical therapies or risk prediction. We have evaluated SNP-based heritability of BPH in two cohorts and conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of BPH risk using 2,656 cases and 7,763 controls identified from the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) network. SNP-based heritability estimates suggest that roughly 60% of the phenotypic variation in BPH is accounted for by genetic factors. We used logistic regression to model BPH risk as a function of principal components of ancestry, age, and imputed genotype data, with meta-analysis performed using METAL. The top result was on chromosome 22 in SYN3 at rs2710383 (p-value = 4.6 × 10-7; Odds Ratio = 0.69, 95% confidence interval = 0.55-0.83). Other suggestive signals were near genes GLGC, UNCA13, SORCS1 and between BTBD3 and SPTLC3. We also evaluated genetically-predicted gene expression in prostate tissue. The most significant result was with increasing predicted expression of ETV4 (chr17; p-value = 0.0015). Overexpression of this gene has been associated with poor prognosis in prostate cancer. In conclusion, although there were no genome-wide significant variants identified for BPH susceptibility, we present evidence supporting the heritability of this phenotype, have identified suggestive signals, and evaluated the association between BPH and genetically-predicted gene expression in prostate.

Treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction

This article summarizes years of challenging research on erectile dysfunction (ED), a condition that has an important social and cultural relevance. Preclinical and clinical research progress has led to new therapeutic approaches to ED in patients with different comorbidities and particularly in those with low urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). These goals were possible only by combined work of specialists and researchers of different and intertwined medical disciplines. Currently, tadalafil (5 mg/d) is the best choice; other phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) are not included among options, despite the growing evidence of therapeutic effects. Different regimens of tadalafil may be prescribed based on patient needs, severity of LUTS/BPH - ED profile, and clinical experience. An integrated approach is necessary to choose for a combined therapy with PDE5i and α-blockers following urological and cardiac counseling in terms of outcomes and adverse effects.

Factors Associated With Early Recovery of Stress Urinary Incontinence Following Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate in Patients With Benign Prostatic Enlargement

Purpose

To investigate factors associated with early recovery of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) following holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in patients with benign prostatic enlargement (BPE).

Methods

The medical records of 393 patients who underwent HoLEP for BPE were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with SUI following HoLEP were selected and divided into 2 groups: those who experienced early recovery of SUI and those who experienced persistent SUI. Recovery of SUI within 1 month after HoLEP was defined as early, and SUI that remained present after 1 month was defined as persistent. Preoperative clinical and urodynamic factors, as well as perioperative factors, were compared between groups.

Results

SUI following HoLEP was detected in 86 patients. Thirty-three patients exhibited recovery of SUI within 1 month, and SUI remained present in 53 patients after 1 month. Multivariate analysis showed that the transition zone prostate volume (odds ratio [OR], 5.354; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.911–14.999; P=0.001) and the enucleation ratio (OR, 8.253; 95% CI, 1.786–38.126; P=0.007) were significantly associated with early recovery of SUI.

Conclusions

Early recovery of SUI within 1 month following HoLEP was associated with transition zone prostate volume and the enucleation ratio.

Surgical Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) commonly occurs among elderly males. The condition causes symptoms in the lower urinary tract, thereby reducing the quality of life. BPH includes 2 major treatments: medication and surgery. Surgical treatment is often the most effective and final intervention. Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), one of the most efficient surgical procedures for BPH, is conducted transurethrally. During surgery, the most important and most difficult part is to locate the surgical capsule of the prostate, which is consistent to the idea of anatomic surgery. Different skills may be needed in treating different parts of the prostate. HoLEP tends to be efficient and safe with good hemostatic properties, and able to treat bladder calculus, which may be the complications of BPH. The technique is particularly suitable for prostate of varying volumes and sizes. Indeed, HoLEP also presents certain disadvantages, such as a long learning curve and costly equipment. Regardless, this method may be the "new standard" and the excellent method for the surgical treatment of BPH.

Transurethral resection of the prostate achieves favorable outcomes in stroke patients with symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the surgical outcomes of stroke patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and compare the clinical outcomes between patients with stroke and those without stroke receiving this procedure.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study analyzed claims data collected during the period of 1997-2012 from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. We enrolled 6625 patients who had persistent lower urinary tract symptoms and underwent TURP for BPH. They were categorized into a stroke (n = 577) and nonstroke (n = 6048) group. Patient characteristics, postoperative clinical outcomes, medication records, and medical expenses were compared.

RESULTS

Compared with the stroke group patients, those in the nonstroke group were younger, had fewer comorbidities, and more favorable postoperative clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, TURP achieved favorable outcomes in stroke patients with symptomatic BPH. In the stroke group, the rate of urinary tract infection (UTI) decreased from 34.7% during 1 year preoperatively to 29.8% during 1 year postoperatively (p = .05). The rate of urinary retention (UR) also decreased from 55.5% during 1 year preoperatively to 22.5% during 1 year postoperatively (p = .05). TURP reduced the overall medical expenses of patients with stroke. Annual patient medical expense during 1 year preoperatively, 1 year postoperatively, 2 years postoperatively, and 3 years postoperatively was NT$659,000, NT$646,000, NT$560,000, and NT$599,000, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with stroke, TURP reduces the risks of UTI and UR and annual total medical expense.