Thulium resection of prostate

Abstract

The high-power thulium laser was introduced in 2005 for the treatment of BPH. So far the vast majority of published studies using the thulium laser for BPH have employed enucleation, vapoenucleation, or laser resection techniques with very few describing pure vaporization. Studies using the 70-120 W thulium laser systems demonstrate good efficacy of these procedures with low morbidity and few complications. Our technique for thulium laser vaporization of the prostate (ThuVP) is simple, systematic, and is fully described in this chapter. Short-term data demonstrate significant improvements in IPSS, QoL, Qmax, and PVR. The procedure may be done on an outpatient basis, and low morbidity is experienced.