Long-term follow-up of laser treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of bladder outlet obstruction

Objectives. The long-term results of different laser technologies in the management of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) are not well known. We studied the durability of the effect of laser prostatectomy and tried to identify the factors predictive of treatment outcome. Methods. Between December 1992 and November 1996, 190 patients underwent laser prostatectomy because of LUTS suggestive of BOG. One hundred seven patients received visual laser ablation of the prostate (VLAP), 30 received contact laser vaporization (CLV), and 53 received interstitial laser coagulation (ILC). The baseline evaluation included the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry (maximum urinary flow rate), postvoid residual urine (PVR), prostate volume measurement, and urodynamic investigation. Patients were followed up until April 1999. Kaplan-Meier plots were constructed to calculate the risk of retreatment, and the log-rank test was used to evaluate the predictive value of clinical parameters for treatment failure. Results. The median follow-up in the VLAP group was 53 months; the retreatment rate was 14% (95% confidence interval [CI] 6% to 22%). The corresponding numbers for the CLV and ILC groups were 47 months and 14% (95% CI 1% to 26%) and 34 months and 41% (95% CI 23% to 60%), respectively. A high PVR and a high grade of obstruction in the VLAP group, and a younger age in the ILC group, were associated with increased retreatment risk. Conclusions. VLAP and CLV have a durable effect, as demonstrated by their low retreatment rate. ILC is a less aggressive procedure, at the expense of a high retreatment rate. Patient selection for VLAP can be based on the grade of obstruction and PVR. UROLOGY 56: 604-609, 2000. (C) 2000, Elsevier Science Inc.