Interstitial laser coagulation for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a 3 year-follow-up of 30 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To report the results and 3 year-follow-up of treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using interstitial laser coagulation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty men with BPH underwent treatment with interstitial laser coagulation between December 1996 and April 1997. Their average age was 68 years old. All of them were assessed prior to the treatment and post treatment for symptoms score, uroflowmetry and postvoid residual urine. Any complication and consequence were evaluated at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: Up to 36 months follow-up, all parameters showed marked improvement. The symptom score decreased from 20 to 5. Peak flow rate increased from 4 ml/sec to 17 ml/sec. Residual urine decreased from 115 ml to 8 ml. No major complication was detected. Urethral catheter or intermittent catheterization were used for the mean of 9.1 days. All of the patients who were potent prior to the treatment remained potent and 75 per cent still had prograde ejaculation. No re-treatment was needed in the 3 year-follow-up. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these results, we propose that interstitial laser coagulation appears to be a minimally invasive treatment for BPH, with substantial improvement of both objective and subjective parameters.