OBJECTIVES: To evaluate holmium:YAG laser vaporization of papillary tumours of the bladder, focusing on surgical technique, patients' satisfaction, complications and cost-effectiveness when using the technique under local anaesthesia as an outpatient procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 52 consecutive patients with recurrent papillary tumours of the bladder were scheduled for holmium:YAG laser vaporization under local anaesthesia using a flexible cystoscope. The number of papillomas and total operative duration was recorded. Patients and surgeons were asked to complete a questionnaire about the procedure. RESULTS: In all, 197 papillomas were successfully vaporized in 88 operations, with a median operative duration of 15 min (5 min per papilloma) and no patient needed treatment under general anaesthesia. Most patients (86%) had no pain (as reported during standard cystoscopy) and none of the procedures was stopped because of pain. All patients would undergo the treatment again, compared with a standard transurethral resection of bladder tumour. The five surgeons rated the procedure as easy in most patients (78%) and difficult in a few (6%). The total cost for the outpatient procedure was less than that for standard treatment. CONCLUSION: This study clearly indicates that holmium:YAG laser vaporization of superficial bladder tumours is feasible, easy and fast, with a high degree of patient satisfaction, and it seems to be an attractive alternative to standard treatment. The procedure has some clear positive socio-economic perspectives in both the short- and long-term.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate holmium:YAG laser vaporization of papillary tumours of the bladder, focusing on surgical technique, patients' satisfaction, complications and cost-effectiveness when using the technique under local anaesthesia as an outpatient procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 52 consecutive patients with recurrent papillary tumours of the bladder were scheduled for holmium:YAG laser vaporization under local anaesthesia using a flexible cystoscope. The number of papillomas and total operative duration was recorded. Patients and surgeons were asked to complete a questionnaire about the procedure. RESULTS: In all, 197 papillomas were successfully vaporized in 88 operations, with a median operative duration of 15 min (5 min per papilloma) and no patient needed treatment under general anaesthesia. Most patients (86%) had no pain (as reported during standard cystoscopy) and none of the procedures was stopped because of pain. All patients would undergo the treatment again, compared with a standard transurethral resection of bladder tumour. The five surgeons rated the procedure as easy in most patients (78%) and difficult in a few (6%). The total cost for the outpatient procedure was less than that for standard treatment. CONCLUSION: This study clearly indicates that holmium:YAG laser vaporization of superficial bladder tumours is feasible, easy and fast, with a high degree of patient satisfaction, and it seems to be an attractive alternative to standard treatment. The procedure has some clear positive socio-economic perspectives in both the short- and long-term.
Authors: Mathias Wolters; Mario W Kramer; Jan U Becker; Matthias Christgen; Udo Nagele; Florian Imkamp; Martin Burchardt; Axel S Merseburger; Markus A Kuczyk; Thorsten Bach; Andreas J Gross; Thomas R W Herrmann Journal: World J Urol Date: 2011-05-08 Impact factor: 4.226
Authors: Mario W Kramer; Thorsten Bach; Mathias Wolters; Florian Imkamp; Andreas J Gross; Markus A Kuczyk; Axel S Merseburger; Thomas R W Herrmann Journal: World J Urol Date: 2011-05-05 Impact factor: 4.226
Authors: K G Stravodimos; D Mitropoulos; A Salvari; A Lampadariou; T Kapetanakis; A Zervas Journal: Int Urol Nephrol Date: 2007-11-13 Impact factor: 2.370
Authors: Mario W Kramer; Mathias Wolters; Hannes Cash; Stephan Jutzi; Florian Imkamp; Markus A Kuczyk; Axel S Merseburger; Thomas R W Herrmann Journal: World J Urol Date: 2014-06-17 Impact factor: 4.226