Risk of erectile dysfunction and retrograde ejaculation associated with thulium laser vaporesection of the prostate for bladder outflow obstruction: a retrospective study

Assessment of Sexual Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Thulium Laser Prostate Surgery for Management of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Thulium laser (Tm:YAG) prostate surgery is a safe and effective procedure with low morbidity and comparable clinical outcomes to those of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). However, the sexual function outcomes (erectile and ejaculatory function) have been scarcely studied.

Aim

We aimed to assess the impact of Tm:YAG prostate surgery on sexual outcomes (erectile and ejaculatory function) and compare them with those patients undergoing TURP.

Material and Methods

We searched digital databases like PUBMED, SCOPUS, CENTRAL and EMBASE using relevant keywords to identify comparative studies on TURP and non-comparative studies on Tm:YAG prostate surgery that assessed sexual outcomes. We performed qualitative and quantitative analyses with the extracted data. We carried out a meta-analysis to compare postoperative International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) scores and incidences of retrograde ejaculation (RE) in patients undergoing either Tm:YAG or TURP. The pre-operative and post-operative IIEF-5 scores were pooled to estimate overall scores.

Results

We included 5 comparative and 8 non-comparative studies in this review. We found the postoperative IIEF-5 score improvements to be significantly higher in the Tm:YAG prostate surgery group than in the TURP group with a significant mean difference (MD) of 0.45 (95% CI, 0.18 to 0.72; P = .001). We found no significant associations between the procedures. The pooled OR for the association of RE was estimated at 0.90 (95% CI, 0.50 to 1.60; P = .71; I² = 0%).

Conclusion

Tm:YAG prostate surgery improves erectile function more than TURP, according to our findings. Tm:YAG prostate aided surgery also outperforms TURP in terms of preserving sexual function following surgery.However, We found similar or no difference in incidence of RE between Tm:YAG prostate surgery and TURP.

Bibo L, Hao L, Pang K, et al. Assessment of Sexual Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Thulium Laser Prostate Surgery for Management of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sex Med 2022;10:100483.

Nomenclature in thulium laser treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: it's time to pull the rabbit out of the hat

We performed a narrative review with the focus on laser settings and surgical procedure with thulium laser. Our primary goal was to define the most valid settings of each surgical procedure to overcome the inconsistency about nomenclature of thulium surgery and to ensure comparability of future publications. A literature search of articles on thulium laser treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was conducted between 2009 and 2019. We proposed a new classification standard for laser settings and associated surgical procedure. Each article was analyzed and categorized as concordant or discordant referring to the new classification. In total, 74 papers were included in this narrative review. Overall, 43% and 42% of included studies reported discordant laser parameters and surgical description, respectively. Most of the studies on vaporization were categorized as discordant because they reported a medium/low laser setting instead of high power. Conversely, 93.3% of studies on enucleation were deemed as discordant for laser setting because they reported high power parameters instead of medium-low power setting. Most of the studies on laser enucleation and vapo/enucleation were considered discordant for surgical procedure since authors did not mention the use of mechanical vs. laser method for enucleation. The current literature lacks a uniform definition and standardization of the terminology of thulium laser settings and surgical techniques to guarantee comparability between different approaches. We found a huge heterogeneity in 10 years of surgery with thulium laser. We proposed a new classification of laser setting and procedural description for categorization of thulium laser surgery for BPH.

Combined top-down approach with low-power thulium laser enucleation of prostate: evaluation of one-year functional outcomes

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined top and down low power thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between May 2017 and May 2019, after institutional board review approval, successfully consented patients underwent combined top and down low power ThuLEP. We used a 30 -W Thulium laser with a 550 μm laser fiber and a 26 Fr continuous flow resectoscope. We collected data related to prostate size, enucleation time, morcellation time, perioperative complications, and early outcomes.

RESULTS

Sixty patients underwent combined Top and down low power ThuLEP with mean age 67 ± 8. Acute urine retention was the main indication for surgery in 22% of patients, while the remaining had mean IPPS score 26 ± 3. The mean prostate volume was 102 ± 25 ml and the mean Qmax was 6 ± 2 ml/sec. Mean operative time was 103 ± 25 min, while; mean enucleation time was 80 ± 12 min, and mean morcellation time was 17 ± 6 min. The mean enucleated prostate volume was 73 ± 16 g and the mean hemoglobin drop was 1 ± 0.2 mg/dl. There was no need for blood transfusion and the mean hospital stay was 18 ± 4 h and catheters were removed on discharge. The 1st visit was at one month, and we observed significant mean Qmax improvement18 ± 5 ml/s. Our results showed no significant change of IIEF-5 score at 12-month follow-up compared to baseline.

CONCLUSION

Low-power Thulium enucleation with a combined top and down technique provided a safe and efficacious outcome, that may reduce strenuous wrist flexion and eliminate the need for high-power Thulium laser device.

Longitudinal changes in erectile function after thulium:YAG prostatectomy for the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction: a 1-year follow-up study

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of thulium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Tm:YAG) (RevoLix®) laser prostatectomy for the treatment of benign prostatic obstructions on erectile function (EF). A total of 208 patients who underwent Tm:YAG laser prostatectomies participated in this study. All cases were evaluated preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL) score, and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaires. Patients were divided into groups A (severe erectile dysfunction [ED]), B (moderate ED), and C (mild-to-normal ED), according to their IIEF-5 scores. The median patient ages were 69, 65, and 62 years in groups A, B, and C, respectively. Significant improvements occurred in the IPSS and QoL score within the groups during the 12-month follow-up period. The IIEF-5 scores at 3 months postoperatively were lower than the preoperative scores in groups B and C. The IIEF-5 scores subsequently improved during the 12-month follow-up period. The slope of the relationship between the IIEF-5 score and the time since Tm:YAG laser prostatectomy had a ß value of 0.2210 (95% confidence interval 0.103 to 0.338, p = 0.0003); hence, each postoperative month was associated with an increase of 0.2210 in the IIEF-5 score. The IIEF-5 scores gradually increased and reached the preoperative levels by the 12-month follow-up assessment. Although the IIEF-5 score dropped significantly during the first 3 months postoperatively, it improved over the following 12 months. Tm:YAG laser prostatectomy did not impact on EF ultimately.

Sexual outcome of patients undergoing thulium laser enucleation of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Treatment of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may affect the quality of sexual function and ejaculation. The effect of new surgical procedures, which are currently available to treat BPH, on erection and ejaculation, has been poorly studied. This study aimed to assess the effect of thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) on sexual function and retrograde ejaculation in patients with LUTS secondary to BPH. We performed a prospective study in 110 consecutive patients who had undergone ThuLEP to analyze changes in sexual function and urinary symptoms. To evaluate changes in erection and ejaculation, and the effect of urinary symptoms on the quality of life (QoL), five validated questionnaires were used: the ICIQ-MLUTSsex, MSHQ-EjD, International Index of Erectile Function 5, International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) questionnaire, and QoL index of the intraclass correlation coefficients. Patients also underwent IPSS and flowmetry to assess the outcome of flow. Patients were evaluated before surgery and 3–6 months after ThuLEP, whereas those with previous abdominal surgery were excluded. The patients’ mean age was 67.83 years. Postoperative urinary symptoms improved after surgery. No significant differences in erectile function before and after surgery were observed. As compared with other techniques described in the literature, the percentage of patients with conserved ejaculation increased by 52.7% after ThuLEP. ThuLEP positively affects urinary symptoms and their effect on the QoL of patients as assessed by questionnaire scores. While endoscopic management of BPH (e.g. transurethral resection of the prostate) causes retrograde ejaculation in most patients, those who undergo ThuLEP have conserved ejaculation and erectile function.

Clinical Background of Patients with Sperm in Their Urinary Sediment

Introduction

The detection rate and associated factors of at least one sperm in urinary sediment is not well-known in real clinical practice.

Aims

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical features associated with the presence of sperm in urinary sediment in a large number of samples.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study at Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital. We identified 5,005 males who were aged ≥20 years in whom urinary sedimentation had been performed at least twice between May 2011 and June 2012. The sperm group included patients in whom at least one urinary sediment test performed under a microscope had detected at least one sperm. We evaluated the associations between the presence of at least one sperm in urinary sediment and clinical parameters such as various diseases and the use of particular oral medicines.

Main Outcomes

In total, 1.6% (339/20,937) of urinary sediment samples contained at least one sperm. The sperm group consisted of 282 subjects (5.6%), and the no-sperm group included 4,723 subjects (94.3%).

Results

Multivariate analysis demonstrated that younger age (<65) (odds ratio [OR]: 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32–2.21), the total number of examinations (≥4) (OR: 1.46, 95%CI: 1.11–1.92), diabetes (OR: 1.72, 95%CI: 1.31–2.25), a history of pelvic surgery for colon cancer (OR: 4.89, 95%CI: 2.38–10.02), alpha-1 blocker use (OR: 1.55, 95%CI: 1.16–2.08), a history of trans-urethral resection of the prostate (OR: 2.77, 95%CI: 1.46–5.13), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use (OR: 2.12, 95%CI: 1.07–4.19) were independent predictors of the presence of at least one sperm in urinary sediment.

Conclusion

There is considerable overlap between the factors associated with the presence of at least one sperm in urinary sediment and those that are strongly associated with ejaculatory disorders.

Evaluation of the Effect of Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate on Sexual Function in a Prospective Study: A Single Center Experience of 150 Patients

Abstract Background and Purpose: Photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate for treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Very few prospective studies have addressed the effect of PVP on sexual function. We performed this prospective study to assess the short-term effect of PVP on erectile function in patients who present with LUTS secondary to BPH. Patients and Methods: There were 150 consecutive patients who presented with LUTS secondary to BPH who underwent PVP and who were enrolled prospectively in this study. Patients were categorized in two groups: Group A, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) ≥19; group B, IIEF <19. PVP was performed by using an 80 W GreenLight laser. Patients preoperative, perioperative, and follow-up data were recorded. Erectile function was assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months using IIEF-5. In follow-up, Ultrasonography of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder for residual prostate and postvoid residual urine, uroflowmetry, kidney function tests, and urine culture were performed at each visit. Cystoscopy was performed at 3 months. Data were analyzed statistically. Results: The two patient groups were comparable in their preoperative and perioperative data. Both groups showed improvement in International Prostate Symptom Score, maximum flow rate, quality of life, and decrease in postvoid residual urine at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months with no statistical significance. IIEF-5 scores in Group A, however, were 21.1, 19.2, 17.1, 16.2, and 16.1, respectively, at preoperative, postoperative month 1, 3, 6, and 12, respectively (P=0.02). IIEF-5 scores in Group B were 13.2, 12.1, 11.3, 11.2, and 10.9, respectively, at preoperative, postoperative month 1, 3, 6, and 12, respectively (P=0.45). Conclusions: In patients with normal preoperative erectile function, PVP resulted in significant decrease in EF up to follow-up of 1 year. In patients with preoperative ED, however, PVP did not significantly decrease EF.