ND-YAG LASER ABLATION OF THE PROSTATE AS A TREATMENT FOR BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERTROPHY

Many techniques have been used to relieve obstructive symptoms associated with benign prostatic hypertrophy. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) with an electrocautery loop is the most commonly performed operation to relieve bladder neck and urethral obstruction caused by prostatic adenoma. There is increased interest in alternative therapies to reduce prostatic size for symptom relief in this condition. We describe a technique using the neodymium: YAG (Nd:YAG) laser and a 600-mu-m laser quartz fibre with an attached terminal gold-plated metal alloy reflector to provide reliable deep penetration into prostatic tissue for prostatic adenoma ablation. We report the first use of this technique in three patients with benign prostatic obstruction and one with localised adenocarcinoma of the prostate.