Laser Ablation a Salvage Treatment for Obstructive Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Overview

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition affecting aging men, often leading to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). While Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapies (MIST) procedures offer less invasive alternatives to traditional surgery, some patients experience symptom recurrence or require further intervention due to lack of adequate relief of obstruction. Treatment of persistent obstruction after MIST therapy (BPH salvage therapy) typically requires surgical intervention like transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). This study proposes to evaluate the effectiveness of in-office transperineal laser ablation (TPLA) using the Echolaser system as a minimally invasive treatment option for these patients, potentially avoiding more invasive surgical procedures. The Cleveland Clinic sees a high volume of BPH salvage patients, making this an ideal setting for this research.

TPLA of the prostate represents a promising minimally invasive treatment modality for men experiencing LUTS secondary to BPH. This technique offers a potentially attractive alternative to traditional surgical interventions, particularly given the growing interest in less invasive procedures. The current literature focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of TPLA in improving urodynamic parameters (specifically maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and post-void residual volume (PVR), alleviating LUTS, and preserving sexual and ejaculatory function, as well as surgical complications. In a recent systematic review, which included 6 studies, studies consistently reported statistically significant improvements from baseline in Qmax, PVR, and IPSS scores (International Prostate Symptom Score) at all measured time points. Furthermore, three of the studies demonstrated that TPLA did not negatively impact sexual function, showing no significant changes in IIEF-6 scores (International Index of Erectile Function) and, in some cases, statistically significant improvements in MSHQ-EjD scores (Male Sexual Health Questionnaire) at various follow-up intervals, Low complication rates were observed across all studies. Pooled analysis of the available data revealed clinically meaningful improvements in both voiding and sexual function outcomes at 1-, 3-, and 6-, and 12-months post-treatment, when compared to baseline values. While the preliminary findings from these pilot studies suggest that TPLA may be a valuable treatment option for BPH, further research is warranted. Specifically, there is a lack of data demonstrating the efficacy of TPLA as a salvage option, where other MIST options failed.