Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of transurethral bipolar surgery and laser technologies in the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is common middle-aged and elderly men. In modern urology, transurethral resection and its modifications are used in surgical treatment of BPH. In the last decades, an active tendency of laser technologies development in urology was noted. The search for the most appropriate techniques of transurethral removal of prostate adenoma by comparing the results of treatment of patients with the use of different technologies remains relevant.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of transurethral bipolar surgery and laser technologies in the treatment of BPH.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transurethral enucleation of the prostate using various technologies was performed in 273 patients with BPH between 2021 and 2023: 94 patients underwent bipolar transurethral enucleation of the prostate, 87 underwent thulium enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP), and 92 underwent holmium enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP).

RESULTS: Clinical evaluation showed the absence of intraoperative complications. For ThuLEP, a trend toward shorter operative times compared to other techniques was observed. In the early postoperative period, significant bleeding was noted in six cases of using bipolar technology, three cases of using a thulium laser, and five cases of using a holmium laser. An examination of patients 6 months postsurgery showed pronounced positive dynamics in all three groups. No significant differences were found in clinical parameters 6 months postsurgery in patients of different groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar enucleation of the prostate, ThuLEP, and HoLEP are comparable in effectiveness and the number of complications in the surgical treatment of BPH. Study results indicated that it is advisable to actively use these methods in wide clinical practice.