Evaluating the Clinical Efficacy of Thulio vs. Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate

Overview

Many consider laser enucleation of the prostate the new 'gold standard' for the surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) due to its excellent outcomes, high success rates, and long-term efficacy. Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) was the earliest form of prostate enucleation and is recommended by the American Urological Association (AUA), along with thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP), as size-independent techniques for the management of BPH with fewer complications than transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Further development of laser technology has additionally led to enucleation using pulsed-modulated (e.g. "Virtual Basket™" mode or MOSES™ mode) holmium lasers as well as the thulium fiber laser.

Study Design This is a prospective randomized study to evaluate the differences in outcomes comparing the existing laser to a new laser among patients undergoing HoLEP. Patients will be evaluated prior to the procedure and at one follow-up time point. Patients will be randomized in equal numbers to each group. The primary outcome will be non-inferiority in hemostasis timing. Several secondary outcomes will be evaluated including enucleation time, active laser time, morcellation time, prostate volume, change in hemoglobin, applied total laser energy, enucleation efficacy (g/min), IPSS (International Prostate Symptom Score), QoL (Quality of Life), uroflowmetry, PVR (post-void residual), duration of catheterization.

Conditions