Water-induced thermotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Water-induced thermotherapy (WIT), administered by the Thermoflex System, represents a novel minimally invasive technique for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The Thermoflex System consists of an extracorporeal heat source and a proprietary closed-loop catheter system. Water, heated to 60 degrees C, is continuously circulated through the catheter to a treatment balloon, which conducts thermal energy to targeted prostatic tissue. The combination of heat and compression reduces the heat sink effect of the circulating blood, thus enhancing the thermal energy transfer to the compressed tissue. WIT treatment is performed using only topical urethral anesthetic, in a single 45-minute session. The 2-year follow-up data from a European multicenter study consisting of 125 patients showed an improvement in peak urine flow of 87.4% (from baseline 8.7 +/- 1.9 to 16.3 +/- 9.1 mL/s) and in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of -54.2% (from baseline 24 +/- 5 to 11 +/- 5). Patient tolerance of WIT was rated as "excellent" or "good" in 91.8% of the procedures. WIT is efficacious, simple, and inexpensive, has few side effects, and does not need special probes to monitor prostate or rectum temperature; thus, it can be used in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and doctors' offices.