Transurethral holmium enucleation of prostatic adenoma

Laser (holmium) enucleation of the prostate (LEP) for infravesical obstruction caused by prostatic adenoma up to 60 cm3 in size was made in 42 patients in the Moscow city urological hospital N 47 from January to July 2009. Transurethral resection (TUR) of the prostate was made in 42 matched controls. All the patients from both groups have undergone the same standard clinical and laboratory examination before the treatment, 1, 3 and 6 months after it. Duration of surgery was shorter in the TUR group (42.4±26.1 min vs 74.8±39.7 min). Washing system operated longer in the TUR group (23±7 vs 10±5 h). The LEP group patients stayed in the hospital for much shorter time (3.1±1.2 days vs 4.6±1.8 days). No significant differences between the groups by basic postoperative parameters were found 1, 3 and 6 months after the operation. Postoperative complications were rare in both groups. Hemorrhagic complications were absent in the LEP group. This makes it possible to recommend LEP for patients with coagulopathy. Trauma of the bladder occurred in 1 case of LEP because of a complicated technique of LEP and the absence of conventional endoscopic reference points characteristic for TUR. Thus, our initial experience with transurethral LEP in comparison with TUR leads us to the conclusion that LEP is effective and safe in surgical treatment of patients with prostatic adenoma. Further gain of experience with LEP conduction may make this method alternative to open adenomectomy.

transurethral laser enucleation, prostatic adenoma, transurethral resection of the prostate