Transurethral RollerLoop vapor resection of prostate for treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: a 2-year follow-up study

OBJECTIVE: We compared the 2-year safety and efficacy of two transurethral resection techniques-transurethral vapor resection of the prostate (TUVRP) and conventional loop transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)-in the surgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between August 1997 and September 2002, 441 patients underwent transurethral prostatectomy, either TUVRP (n = 221) or TURP (n = 220). TUVRP was performed using a "RollerLoop" resection loop. All patients were assessed preoperatively by means of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) score, prostate volume, peak urinary flow (Qmax) and post-void residual volume (PVR) measurements and a sexual function questionnaire. Patients were followed up for 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery, and this was followed by a comparison of the incidences of sexual dysfunction, complications and re-treatment. RESULTS: After 2 years of follow-up, no differences were noted between the TUVRP and TURP groups with respect to average IPSS (p = 0.9), QOL scores (p = 0.56), Qmax (p = 0.89) or PVR (p = 0.55), as well as the incidences of bladder neck contracture or urethral stricture (p = 0.34), re-treatment (p = 0.49) or sexual dysfunction (p = 0.57). However, significant reductions in operative time (p = 0.005), decrease in serum hemoglobin levels (p < 0.001), catheterization time (p < 0.001), postoperative hospital stay (p < 0.001) and hospitalization costs (p < 0.001) were observed in the TUVRP group compared to the TURP group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that TUVRP provides equivalent safety and efficacy to TURP during a 2-year follow-up period, in which short-term advantages in perioperative morbidity and cost savings were also demonstrated.