Twelve-Month Follow-up Results of Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate With a 980-nm Diode Laser for Treatment of Benign Hyperplasia

The clinical study of en bloc transurethral resection with 980 nm laser for treatment of primary non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE

To elevate safety and efficacy of en bloc transurethral resection with 980 nm laser as treatment for primary non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

METHODS

Total 84 cases were enrolled in this study. Among them, 36 and 48 cases underwent treatment using the 980 nm laser and the traditional TUR-BT procedure, respectively. The peri-operative characteristics (tumor size, tumor multiplicity, tumor grade, etc.) and intra-operative complications (obturator nerve reflex, bladder perforation, bladder irrigation, etc.) were recorded and compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

There are no significant difference in baseline characteristics between laser and TUR-Bt treatment groups. Operation time also has no significant difference in two groups. Obturator nerve reflex and bladder perforation were noted in 6 patients and in 3 patients during TUR-Bt group, respectively. No obturator nerve reflex and bladder perforation were observed in the laser group. The patients who need bladder irrigation was lower in laser group than in TUR-Bt group. There were no significant differences in catheterization time and hospitalization time between two groups. No significant difference in the overall recurrence rate were observed among the two groups during the follow-up periods.

CONCLUSION

En bloc transurethral resection using 980 nm laser is an effective and safe treatment option for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Compared to the traditional TUR-Bt procedure, the procedure using 980 nm laser has fewer perioperative complications and similar oncological results.

Transurethral vaporesection of prostate: diode laser or thulium laser?

This study compared the safety and effectiveness of the diode laser and thulium laser during prostate transurethral vaporesection for treating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). We retrospectively analyzed 205 patients with BPH who underwent a diode laser or thulium laser technique for prostate transurethral vaporesection from June 2016 to June 2017 and who were followed up for 3 months. Baseline characteristics of the patients, perioperative data, postoperative outcomes, and complications were compared. We also assessed the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), maximum flow rate (Q_max), average flow rate (AFR), and postvoid residual volume (PVR) at 1 and 3 months postoperatively to evaluate the functional improvement of each group. There were no significant differences between the diode laser and thulium laser groups related to age, prostate volume, operative time, postoperative hospital stays, hospitalization costs, or perioperative data. The catheterization time was 3.5 ± 0.8 days for the diode laser group and 4.7 ± 1.8 days for the thulium laser group (p < 0.05). Each group had dramatic improvements in IPSS, QoL, Q_max, AFR, and PVR compared with the preoperative values (p < 0.05), although there were no significant differences between the two groups. Use of both diode laser and thulium laser contributes to safe, effective transurethral vaporesection in patients with symptomatic BPH. Diode laser, however, is better than thulium laser for prostate transurethral vaporesection because of its shorter catheterization time. The choice of surgical approach is more important than the choice of laser types during clinical decision making for transurethral laser prostatectomy.

Laser transurethral resection of the prostate: Safety study of a novel system of photoselective vaporization with high power diode laser in prostates larger than 80mL

OBJECTIVE

To present the feasibility of photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) with of a new diode laser-resection system. Surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is constantly evolving. Laser techniques are increasingly used in prostates of large size.

METHODS

A prospective study was performed to evaluate operative data and patient outcomes with PVP using high-power diode laser (HPD) and a novel quartz-head fiber with shovel shape in patients with prostate>80mL. Demographic data, operative time, hemoglobin loss, operative results (IPSS, quality of life (QoL), Qmax, post void residue (PVR), IIEF-5 and micturition diary) and complications following Clavien-Dindo classification are described.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients were included in the study. Sixteen (51.6%) were on active antiplatelet treatment and 12 (38.7%) had received anticoagulants before surgery. All cases were followed at least 6mo. No intraoperative or postoperative major complications occurred. Three patients (9.7%) had minor complications according to Clavien-Dindo classification. Twenty-seven (87.1%) were discharged on postoperative day one without catheter. There were significant improvements in IPSS, QoL, Qmax and PVR, both at 3 and 6mo (P<.0001), but sexual function according to IIEF-5 showed no differences. Urgency (any grade) increased at 3mo (48.4%; P=.002) and considerably decreased at 6mo (9.7%; P<.0001).

CONCLUSION

This pilot experience with shovel shape fiber and HPD is encouraging. It shows that laser-resection is a safe procedure, achieving excellent results in terms of IPSS, QoL and Qmax in large prostates even in high-risk patients. Longer follow-up, comparative and randomized controlled studies are needed to widespread these results.

Diode laser vaporisation of the prostate vs. diode laser under cold irrigation: A randomised control trial

Objective

To compare the perioperative morbidity and early follow-up after diode laser vaporisation of the prostate (LVP) and its modification, diode laser under cold irrigation (LUCI) in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia, as the main disadvantages of LVP are the postoperative pain, dysuria and storage urinary symptoms.

Patients and methods

This was a single-centre prospective randomised control trial in which 100 patients were randomised to receive LVP (50) or LUCI (50) from June 2011 until July 2012. LUCI is similar to LVP except that it is done under normal irrigation with saline at 4 °C instead of saline at room temperature. The primary outcome measures were the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), IPSS-Dysuria, a pain scale (PS), maximum flow rate (Q_max), a quality-of-life (QoL) score and the postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) after 1 month, then the IPSS, Q_max, QoL, and PVR at 3 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative surgical variables, e.g., the decline in core temperature, bleeding, peri- and postoperative morbidity.

Results

The baseline characteristics of both groups were similar. For the primary outcome measures, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in all variables except Q_max after 1 month, in favour of LUCI. The mean (SD) IPSS at 1 month in the LVP group was 8.97 (1.68), statistically significantly different from that after LUCI, of 6.89 (1.5) (P < 0.05). The mean IPSS-Dysuria at 1 month was also significantly, at −2.32 (0.91) for LVP and 3.54 (1.07) for LUCI (P < 0.05). The respective mean PS at 1 month was 7.84 (2.92) and 5.7 (2.1) (P < 0.05). The QoL and PVR at 1 month were also significantly different. Within the first month 17% of patients in the LVP group and 4% in the LUCI group complained of transient urgency or stress incontinence, and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant bleeding in either group. The mean operative time or applied energy of LVP was not statistically significant from that of LUCI, and there was no significant difference in the decline in core temperature between the groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

LUCI is a good modification for reducing the pain, dysuria and storage symptoms associated with LVP. The procedure appears to be safe, with no significant decrease in core temperature in either group.

Diode laser (980 nm) vaporization in comparison with transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia: randomized clinical trial with 2-year follow-up

PURPOSE

To compare outcomes of diode laser vaporization of prostate with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) as a gold-standard treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total number of 115 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia underwent TURP and 980-nm diode vaporization of prostate in a balanced randomization (1:1) from 2010 to 2012 and were followed up for 24 months. Baseline characteristics of the patients, perioperative data, and postoperative outcomes were compared. The primary end point of the study was assessing the values of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and maximum flow rate (Qmax) to predict the functional improvement of each group. The trial is registered at http://www.irct.ir (number IRCT201202138146N3).

RESULT

The mean age (± standard deviation) of the patients was 68.2 ± 7.8 years in TURP and 68.5 ± 8.8 in diode groups. In TURP and diode groups, the operation time was 54.9 ± 15.3 vs 60.6 ± 22.6 minutes (P = .14), Foley catheterization time was 88.9 ± 22.5 vs 20.1 ± 4.6 hours (P = .0001) and postoperative hospital stay was 59.9 ± 14.4 vs 25.8 ± 9.2 hours (P = .0001) respectively. Outcome with regard to increase in Qmax, decrease in IPSS, and decrease in postvoid residual urine volume showed a dramatic improvement in both groups during the first 6 months. In the TURP group, the values of IPSS and Qmax were respectively lower and higher than diode patients at 12 and 24 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

According to our study, diode laser vaporization (980 nm) offers a safe and feasible procedure in the management of patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy; however, at longer follow-up the functional outcome of diode laser vaporization has been less efficient than TURP.

Virtual reality simulator for training on photoselective vaporization of the prostate with 980 nm diode laser and learning curve of the technique

OBJECTIVE

The utility of a virtual reality simulator for training of the photoselective vaporization of the prostate with diode laser was studied.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Two experiments were performed with a simulator (VirtaMed AG, Zürich, Switzerland) with software for specific training in prostate vaporization in contact mode with Twister fiber (Biolitec AG, Jena, German). Eighteen surgeons performed ablation of the prostate (55 cc) twice and compared the score obtained (190 points efficacy and 80 safety) in the second one of them by experience groups (medical students, residents, specialists). They also performed a spatial orientation test with scores of 0 to 6. After, six of these surgeons repeated 15 ablations of the prostate (55 and 70 ml). Improvement of the parameters obtained was evaluated to define the learning curve and how experience, spatial orientation skills and type of sequences performed affects them.

RESULTS

Global efficacy and safety score was different according to the grade of experience (P=.005). When compared by pairs, specialist-student differences were detected (p=0.004), but not specialist-resident (P=.12) or resident-student (P=.2). Regarding efficacy of the procedure, specialist-student (p=0.0026) and resident-student (P=.08) differences were detected. The different partial indicators in terms of efficacy were rate of ablation (P=.01), procedure time (P=.03) and amount of unexposed capsule (p=0.03). Differences were not observed between groups in safety (P=.5). Regarding the learning curve, percentage median on the total score exceeded 90% after performing 4 procedures for prostates of 55 ml and 10 procedures for prostate glands of 70 ml. This course was not modified by previous experience (resident-specialist; P=.6). However, it was modified according to the repetition sequence (progressive-random; P=.007). Surgeons whose spatial orientation was less than the median of the group (value 2.5) did not surpass 90% of the score in spite of repetition of the procedure.

CONCLUSION

Simulation for ablation of the prostate with contact diode laser is a good learning model with discriminative validity, as it correlates the metric results with levels of experience and sills. The sequential repetition of the procedure on growing levels of difficulty favors learning.

Update on the use of diode laser in the management of benign prostate obstruction in 2014

AIM

To determine the status quo in respect of various diode lasers and present the techniques in use, their results and complications. We assess how these compare with transurethral resection of the prostate and other types of laser in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). When adequate RCTs were not available, case studies and reports were evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Laser for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has aroused the interest and curiosity of urologists as well as patients. The patient associates the term laser with a successful and modern procedure. The journey that started with coagulative necrosis of prostatic adenoma based on neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser has culminated in endoscopic "enucleation" with holmium laser. Diode laser is being used in urology for about 10 years now. Various techniques have been employed to relieve bladder outlet obstruction due to BPH.

RESULTS

The diode laser scenario is marked by a diversity of surgical techniques and wavelengths. We summarize the current published literature in respect of functional results and complications.

CONCLUSION

More randomized controlled studies are needed to determine the position and the ideal technique of diode laser treatment for BPH.