OBJECTIVE: To examine a group of patients treated with holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and with the bladder outlet obstructed by an exceptionally large (>125 mL) prostate, as such men are often not considered candidates for endoscopic treatments and historically have required open surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed retrospectively all patients with prostates of > 125 mL on transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) who underwent HoLEP between January 2000 and January 2005. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients were identified; their mean (range) age was 72.6 (48-90) years and prostate volume 170.2 (125-309) mL. Their mean preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 9.82 ng/mL and preoperative American Urologic Association symptom score (AUA-SS) was 19.6. The mean operative duration and hospital stay were 128.1 min and 26.1 h, respectively. The mean weight of tissue enucleated was 140.2 g. At the 1-month follow-up the mean AUA-SS (63 men) was 8.4 and at 6 months (35 men) it was 6.4. The mean serum PSA level in 48 patients was 0.96 ng/mL, a reduction of 90%. TRUS measurements in 20 patients gave a mean prostate volume of 30.8 mL, a reduction of 82%. At the 1-year follow-up the mean AUA-SS of 22 patients was 5.1. CONCLUSIONS: The present report details the largest series of patients, with the largest mean prostate size, treated by any endoscopic surgical method. HoLEP may be the ideal treatment for men with prostates of > 125 mL with symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction.
OBJECTIVE: To examine a group of patients treated with holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and with the bladder outlet obstructed by an exceptionally large (>125 mL) prostate, as such men are often not considered candidates for endoscopic treatments and historically have required open surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed retrospectively all patients with prostates of > 125 mL on transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) who underwent HoLEP between January 2000 and January 2005. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients were identified; their mean (range) age was 72.6 (48-90) years and prostate volume 170.2 (125-309) mL. Their mean preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 9.82 ng/mL and preoperative American Urologic Association symptom score (AUA-SS) was 19.6. The mean operative duration and hospital stay were 128.1 min and 26.1 h, respectively. The mean weight of tissue enucleated was 140.2 g. At the 1-month follow-up the mean AUA-SS (63 men) was 8.4 and at 6 months (35 men) it was 6.4. The mean serum PSA level in 48 patients was 0.96 ng/mL, a reduction of 90%. TRUS measurements in 20 patients gave a mean prostate volume of 30.8 mL, a reduction of 82%. At the 1-year follow-up the mean AUA-SS of 22 patients was 5.1. CONCLUSIONS: The present report details the largest series of patients, with the largest mean prostate size, treated by any endoscopic surgical method. HoLEP may be the ideal treatment for men with prostates of > 125 mL with symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction.