Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society Global GreenLight Laser Study: Outcomes from a contemporary series of 713 patients

Complications of GreenLight Laser vs Transurethral Resection of the Prostate for Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials

OBJECTIVE

To compare perioperative outcomes and complications between GreenLight and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

METHODS

A systematic review and random effects meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing GreenLight with TURP was completed. Primary outcomes included periprocedural milestones, 12 predefined complications, Clavien-Dindo class III-V complications, reoperations (all-cause), and a composite of reoperations and readmissions. Metaregression assessed the relationship between patient- and study-level factors with periprocedural outcomes and reoperation rates.

RESULTS

The review included 13 randomized trials with 1757 patients (839 GreenLight; 918 TURP). Procedure time was 10 minutes (95% CI: 5 to 15; P < .001) longer with GreenLight, while catheterization time (mean difference=-1.3days; 95% CI: -1.7 to -0.9; P<.001) and hospital stay (mean difference=-2.1days; 95% CI: -2.5 to -1.7; P<.001) were shorter. Bleeding-related complications, including clot retention (risk ratio [RR]=0.12; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.32; P<.001) and transfusion (RR=0.26; 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.58; P = .001), as well as sexual dysfunction (RR=0.66; 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.98; P = .04), were less frequent with GreenLight. All other complications occurred at similar frequencies between groups. The risks of reoperation (RR: 1.17; 95% CI: 0.82 to 1.66; P = .38) and reoperation or readmission (RR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.76 to 1.44; P = .79) did not differ.

CONCLUSION

GreenLight achieved shorter catheterization times and hospital stays with lower rates of sexual dysfunction and bleeding-related complications compared to TURP.

[EXPERIENCES OF CONTACT LASER VAPORIZATION OF THE PROSTATE (CVP) FOR TREATING BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA IN THE LOCAL HOSPITAL]

(Objective) We started contact laser vaporization of the prostate (CVP) for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia at our hospital in July 2019. Forty-five patients were treated with CVP from July 2019 to April 2021. (Methods) Patients were assessed preoperatively and at one and three months after CVP treatment by using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life index (QOL index), peak urinary flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR). (Results) IPSS, QOL index, Qmax, and PVR significantly improved three months after CVP (p<0.05). Regarding adverse events, five patients developed early external urinary meatus strictures, two had postoperative bleeding, and three had temporary urinary retention. (Conclusions) In our hospital, elderly patients and patients who cannot discontinue an antithrombotic drug were treated by CVP for benign prostatic hyperplasia relatively safely.

Impact of Surgery for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia on Sexual Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Erectile Function and Ejaculatory Function

CONTEXT

Several sexual side effects, including erectile, ejaculatory, and orgasmic dysfunction, were reported with the majority of surgical procedures for benign prostatic obstruction (BPO).

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review current evidence regarding the impact of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) surgery on sexual function.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A comprehensive bibliographic search on the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases was conducted in July 2021. The population, intervention, comparator, and outcome (PICO) model was used to define study eligibility. Studies were Included if they assessed patients with BPO and related lower urinary tract symptoms (P) undergoing BPH surgery (I) with or without a comparison between surgical treatments (C) evaluating the impact on sexual function (O). Retrospective and prospective primary studies were included. A pooled analysis was conducted on studies including the postoperative assessment of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5, Male Sexual Health Questionnaire-Ejaculatory Dysfunction (MSHQ-EjD; Function and/or Bother), or retrograde ejaculation (RE) rate (PROSPERO database ID: CRD42020177907).

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

A total of 151 studies investigating 20 531 patients were included. Forty-eight randomized controlled trials evaluating 5045 individuals were eligible for the meta-analysis. In most studies (122, 80.8%), only erectile and/or ejaculatory function was evaluated. A substantial number of articles (67, 44.4%) also used nonvalidated tools to evaluate erectile and/or ejaculatory function. The pooled analysis showed no statistically significant changes in IIEF-5 score compared with baseline for the transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP; weighted mean difference [WMD] 0.76 pts; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.1, 1.62; p = 0.08), laser procedure (WMD 0.33 pts; 95% CI -0.1, 0.77; p = 0.13), and minimally invasive treatment (WMD -1.37 pts; 95% CI -3.19, 0.44; p = 0.14) groups. A statistically significantly higher rate of RE was found after TURP (risk ratio [RR] 13.31; 95% CI 8.37, 21.17; p < 0.00001), other electrosurgical procedures (RR 34.77; 95% CI 10.58, 127.82; p < 0.00001), and the entire laser group (RR 17.37; 95% CI 5.93, 50.81; p < 0.00001). No statistically significant increase in RE rate was described after most of the minimally invasive procedures (p > 0.05). The pooled analysis of MSHQ-EjD scores was possible only for prostatic urethral lift, showing no statistically significant difference between baseline and post-treatment MSHQ-EjD Function scores (WMD -0.80 pts; 95% CI -2.41, 0.81; p = 0.33), but postoperative MSHQ-EjD Bother scores were significantly higher (WMD 0.76 pts; 95% CI 0.22, 1.30; p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Erectile function appears to be unaffected by most surgical procedures for BPO. RE is a very common adverse event of BPH surgery, although emerging minimally invasive surgical procedures could be associated with a lower risk.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery can have an impact on sexual function, mainly involving ejaculatory function.

Exploration of day-surgery photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) in Chinese population

To explore the surgical effect and cost-effectiveness of day surgery versus inpatient surgery for photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) in Chinese population. We retrospectively collected 240 patients undergoing day-surgery PVP (April 2016 to March 2018) and 156 patients undergoing inpatient-surgery PVP (May 2014 to March 2016). Differences between groups in demographics, perioperative outcomes, complications, and postoperative changes were calculated. Economical results in terms of hospital stay and relevant preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative cost were evaluated. There was no significant difference in operative time, incidence of postoperative complications, and other functional outcomes between two groups (P > 0.05), but the waiting time for admission and the hospital cost including the drug charges, bed fee, nursing fee, laboratory test, and imaging fee of day-surgery group were significantly lower than that of inpatient-surgery group (P < 0.05). Day surgery of PVP has firm and well accepted position in ambulatory surgery of urology. It could significantly reduce the waiting time for admission and hospitalization costs in BPH patients.

Optimal Monitoring of Prostate-Specific Antigen Detects Prostate Cancer at the Localized Stage after Photoselective Vaporization for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Introduction

Photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) does not provide prostate tissue for pathologic analysis. Here, we carried out early monitoring for prostate cancer by measuring prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and assessing clinicopathological features after PVP.

Materials and Methods

Patients (n = 800) who underwent PVP and were followed-up for more than 12 months were analyzed retrospectively. After PVP, PSA levels were measured at 3 and 12 months and each year thereafter. Prostate biopsies were performed when PSA levels increased continuously. We assessed the characteristics of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Results

The mean follow-up period was 49 months. After PVP, 54 patients underwent biopsies, and 23 patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Overall, 10, 10, and 3 patients had clinical stage T1c, T2a, and T2b disease, respectively, and there were no cases of stage T2c disease or greater.

Conclusions

We found that it was possible to diagnose prostate cancer at a localized stage under our optimal PSA monitoring schedule before and after PVP.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of six therapies for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis from payers' perspectives of six treatments for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and to examine positioning of these modalities in the marketplace for the best use of health care funds and quality-of-life benefits for patients.

METHODS

The economic analysis was conducted with a Markov model to compare combination prescription drug therapy (ComboRx), minimally invasive therapies (MITs) including convective radiofrequency (RF) water vapor thermal therapy (Rezūm®), conductive RF thermal therapy (Prostiva®), and prostatic urethral lift (UroLift®), and invasive surgical procedures including photovaporization of the prostate (Greenlight® PVP) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Effects assessed with International Prostate Symptom Score, adverse events, and re-treatment rates were estimated from medical literature; treatments effects were modeled using a common baseline score. Starting with each therapy, patients' transitions to more intensive therapies when symptoms returned were simulated in 6-month cycles over 2 years. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for pairs of treatments; uncertainty in ICERs was estimated with probabilistic sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

ComboRx was least effective and provided one-third of the symptom relief achieved with MITs. UroLift was similar in effectiveness to Prostiva and Rezūm but costs more than twice as much. The cheaper MITs were ~$900 more expensive than the cost of ComboRx generic drugs over 2 years. TURP and PVP provided slightly greater relief of LUTS than MITs at approximately twice the cost over 2 years; typically, they are reserved for treatment of more severe LUTS.

CONCLUSION

The analysis evaluated the costs and symptom relief of six treatment options in the continuum of care from a common baseline of LUTS severity. Identification of treatments for LUTS/BPH that demonstrate cost-effectiveness and provide appreciable symptom relief is paramount as reimbursement for patient care moves from volume-based services to value-based services.

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) vs GreenLight photoselective vaporization of benign prostatic hyperplasia: analysis of BPH6 outcomes after 1 year of follow-up

The surgical treatment of benign prostatic obstruction is changing over the time, thanks the increase evidence about the successful role of laser techniques in this surgery. We aimed to compare prostatic GreenLight photovaporization (PVP) to bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) with regard to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) improvement through the evaluation of BPH6. We enrolled 220 consecutive subjects affected by LUTS. We performed a propensity score matching using prostate volume, peak flow and International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS). A total of 110 (55 TURP and 55 PVP) were analyzed. We found after 1 year of follow-up that the rate of subjects resulting in greater BPH6 recovery in the PVP group vs TURP (45.6% vs 18.2%; P=0.001). The TURP treatment showed greater catheterization time (4.67 vs 1.25; P<0.01) while PVP showed greater recovery experience (82.4 vs 58.2; <0.01). Postoperative ejaculatory dysfunctions were observed in both groups, 58.8% in TURP and 34.5% in PVP group. The multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted for preoperative variables, showed that PVP was independently associated with BPH6 recovery end point (odds ratio=3.77; P<0.01). This study showed data in favor of PVP. Although IPSS and peak flow improvements were similar, PVP showed better clinical outcomes.