Water Vapor Thermal Therapy in Men With Prostate Volume ≥80 cm3: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and effectiveness of water vapor thermal therapy (Rezum) in men with large prostate volumes of at least 80cm3. METHODS: We performed systematic searches for studies of Rezum therapy in men with prostate volume of at least 80 cm3. Meta-analysis outcomes included the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), IPSS Quality of Life (IPSS-QOL), Qmax, postvoid residual, International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function (IIEF-EF), and serious (Clavien-Dindo grade III-V) complications, surgical retreatments. Outcomes were analyzed using a random effects meta-analysis model. RESULTS: The review included 15 studies (11 retrospective) of 471 men with prostate volume at least 80 cm3 treated with Rezum therapy and followed for a median of 6months (range: 3-17months). Rezum therapy resulted in statistically significant improvements in IPSS (mean change: -11.0; 95% CI: -12.2, -9.7; P < .001), IPSS-QOL (mean change: -2.9; 95% CI: -3.5, -2.4; P < .001), Qmax (mean change: 6.5 mL/s; 95% CI: 4.8, 8.2 mL/s; P < .001), and postvoid residual (mean change: -101 mL; 95% CI: -145, -57; P < .001). No change in IIEF-EF was observed (mean change: 0.3; 95% CI: -1.1, 1.6; P = .71). Serious complications occurred in <0.1% (95% CI: 0.0%, 0.4%) and surgical retreatment in 1.2% (95% CI: 0.0%, 3.5%) of patients. CONCLUSION: Rezum therapy provides a statistically significant and clinically important short-term improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms with low complication rates in men with prostate volume of at least 80 cm3. Long-term outcomes with Rezum therapy in large prostates remain unclear.

Long-Term Risk of Surgery Following First Diagnosis of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Middle-Aged Men.

Objective Pharmacotherapy is often used to relieve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), yet surgery may be indicated for persistent bothersome symptoms. BPH is common among older men, yet the burden of BPH among middle-aged men may be under-recognized. This study examined the 5-year risk of BPH surgery among middle-aged men following the first BPH diagnosis. Methods Using the IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database, males aged 35 to 64 years with a first-time primary diagnosis of BPH who were prescribed oral medication for LUTS were identified. The primary outcome was the risk of BPH surgery within five years of the first BPH diagnosis, which was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methods. The influence of patient demographics, comorbidities, and medication use on the risk of BPH surgery was explored using a Cox proportional hazards model.  Results Four thousand five hundred ten eligible men, 460 underwent BPH surgery within five years of BPH diagnosis. The most common surgical procedures were transurethral resection of the prostate and laser enucleation. The risk of BPH surgery over five years following BPH diagnosis was 10.2% (95% CI: 9.4% to 11.1%). In a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, patient age was the primary factor associated with higher surgery risk. Compared to men aged 35 to 44 years, the hazard ratio for BPH surgery was 3.9 (95% CI: 1.9 to 8.4; p<0.001) among men aged 45 to 54 years, and 5.0 (95% CI: 2.4 to 10.6; p<0.001) among men aged 55 to 64 years. Conclusions In middle-aged men prescribed oral medication for LUTS secondary to BPH, the risk of BPH surgery was 10.2% over five years. This risk may be underappreciated and highlights the clinical need for surgical procedures with favorable risk-to-benefit profiles.

Water vapor thermal therapy for lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT) is a minimally invasive procedure for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There are no known systematic reviews reporting the effectiveness and safety of this increasingly common BPH therapy. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies utilizing WVTT for symptomatic BPH. The international prostate symptom score (IPSS), IPSS-quality of life (IPSS-QOL), BPH impact index (BPHII), and maximum flow rate (Qmax) were calculated as the weighted mean difference relative to baseline and reported in minimal clinically important difference (MCID) units. MCID thresholds were -3 for IPSS, -0.5 for IPSS-QOL, -0.5 for BPHII, and 2 mL/s for Qmax. The surgical retreatment rate was calculated using life-table methods. RESULTS: We identified 5 cohorts treated with WVTT from 4 studies (514 patients; 40% with median lobe obstruction) with 2 years median follow-up (range: 6 months to 4 years). The IPSS, IPSS-QOL, BPHII, and Qmax significantly improved at all intervals between 3 months and 4 years; this benefit ranged from 3.3 to 3.8 MCID units for IPSS, 3.9 to 4.6 MCID units for IPSS-QOL, 6.8 to 8.2 MCID units for BPHII, and 1.5 to 3.0 MCID units for Qmax. The surgical retreatment rate was 7.0% at 4 years of follow-up data. Most adverse events were nonserious and transient; dysuria, urinary retention, and urinary tract infection were most common. No cases of de novo erectile dysfunction occurred. CONCLUSIONS: WVTT provided improvement in BPH symptoms that exceeded established MCID thresholds, preserved sexual function, and was associated with low surgical retreatment rates over 4 years.