Interstitial laser coagulation of the prostate: introduction of a volume-based treatment formula with 12-month follow-up.

The objective of the present study was to assess the efficacy of interstitial laser coagulation (ILC) of the prostate using a low-volume treatment formula as a minimally invasive therapy for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A total of 25 men underwent ILC of the prostate for symptomatic BPH between February 1997 and June 1997. The Indigo 830e laser system from Indigo Medical Inc. and the factory preset therapy regimen was used for ILC of the prostate. The number of treatments or punctures was determined by the formula 0.5 x total prostate volume (ml)/8 ml, rounded to the closest even whole number. The treatment outcome was evaluated at 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals using the American Urological Association's (AUA) BPH symptom score, maximal urinary flow, prostate size, and postvoid residual urine volume. The AUA symptom score decreased from 23.2 (range 17-28) prior to treatment to 9.4 (range 4-14) at 3 months, 6.6 (range 5-12) at 6 months, and 7.2 (range 4-11) at 12 months. The maximal flow rate improved from 8.4 (range 5-10) ml/s pretreatment to 14.1 (range 10-20) ml/s at 3 months, 14.8 (range 10-18) ml/s at 6 months, and 16.8 (range 12-25) ml/s at 12 months after treatment. There was no significant postprocedure complication. The 1-year clinical results suggest that the ILC procedure using the Indigo 830e device in conjunction with a low-volume treatment formula has outcomes similar to those obtained following ILC based on high-volume coagulation.