OBJECTIVE: To present the 7-year follow-up data from the initial series of patients treated by holmium laser ablation of the prostate (HoLAP) for symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia at our institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 79 patients underwent HoLAP in the initial series between September 1994 and May 1995. All patients were contacted by telephone and mail; those available for follow-up had their peak urinary flow rate, American Urological Association (AUA) symptom score, single-question quality-of-life (QoL) score and adverse events assessed. Patients were also assessed using the International Continence Society 'male short-form' (ICSmaleSF) questionnaire on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 89 months (7.4 years), 17 patients had died (21%), 28 could not be contacted or refused follow-up (35%), leaving 34 patients (43%) available for assessment. The mean (range) AUA score of the remainder was 10.0 (0-26), the maximum urinary flow rate 16.8 (5-35) mL/s and QoL score 2.1 (0-5). The mean ICSmaleSF voiding score was 5.8 and the mean incontinence score 3.2. The impact score of their current LUTS (QoL) was 0.68, implying a minimal effect. No patient required pads for incontinence. The reoperation rate was 15%, with one patient each undergoing transurethral resection or bladder neck incision, two undergoing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate and one having a bladder stone removed endoscopically. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term results of HoLAP were satisfactory in those patients who were available for the follow-up.
OBJECTIVE: To present the 7-year follow-up data from the initial series of patients treated by holmium laser ablation of the prostate (HoLAP) for symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia at our institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 79 patients underwent HoLAP in the initial series between September 1994 and May 1995. All patients were contacted by telephone and mail; those available for follow-up had their peak urinary flow rate, American Urological Association (AUA) symptom score, single-question quality-of-life (QoL) score and adverse events assessed. Patients were also assessed using the International Continence Society 'male short-form' (ICSmaleSF) questionnaire on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 89 months (7.4 years), 17 patients had died (21%), 28 could not be contacted or refused follow-up (35%), leaving 34 patients (43%) available for assessment. The mean (range) AUA score of the remainder was 10.0 (0-26), the maximum urinary flow rate 16.8 (5-35) mL/s and QoL score 2.1 (0-5). The mean ICSmaleSF voiding score was 5.8 and the mean incontinence score 3.2. The impact score of their current LUTS (QoL) was 0.68, implying a minimal effect. No patient required pads for incontinence. The reoperation rate was 15%, with one patient each undergoing transurethral resection or bladder neck incision, two undergoing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate and one having a bladder stone removed endoscopically. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term results of HoLAP were satisfactory in those patients who were available for the follow-up.
Authors: R Berges; K Dreikorn; K Höfner; S Madersbacher; M C Michel; R Muschter; M Oelke; O Reich; W Rulf; C Tschuschke; U Tunn Journal: Urologe A Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 0.639