ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We prospectively evaluated a decrease in outflow obstruction caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with second generation thermotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transurethral microwave therapy was given with local anesthesia to 134 patients with urodynamically and cystoscopically documented obstruction by BPH and preserved detrusor function. Of 134 patients 67 (50%) had a general health score of 3 or greater. RESULTS: Urgency was the main complaint during thermotherapy. After a median followup of 24 months (minimum 12) 100 patients were evaluable at 6 and 12 months. Of the initial 134 patients 17 (13%) who required additional treatment (repeat thermotherapy, transurethral prostatic resection, permanent cystostomy), 7 who died during followup for treatment unrelated reasons and 10 who were lost to followup or refused evaluation were excluded from further analysis. Mean International Prostate Symptom Score decreased from 22.5 before to 3.6 at 6 months after treatment and remained stable at 12 months. Mean Quality of Life Index improved from 4.3 before to 1 at 12 months after treatment. Mean maximum flow increased from 7.3 ml. per second before to 14.5 at 6 months and 13.9 at 12 months after treatment. Mean post-void residual decreased from 199 to 34.8 and 37.2 ml. at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Urodynamic evaluation of 84 patients after 6 months revealed a decrease in mean detrusor opening pressure from 96.8 to 53 cm. water and mean detrusor pressure at maximum flow from 99.8 to 59.7 cm. water. Mean ultrasonographic prostate volume decreased from 57.6 to 42.4 cc and a cavity in the prostate was documented in 65 of the 84 cases (77%). All changes between the pretreatment and posttreatment values at 6 and 12 months, respectively, were statistically significant (paired t test p<0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: Targeted transurethral thermotherapy with second generation microwave equipment is minimally invasive, easy to apply and generally well tolerated with local anesthesia. Infravesical outlet obstruction and voiding pressures as assessed by pressure flow studies significantly decreased 6 months after treatment. Subjective voiding symptoms as well as post-void residual urine were significantly decreased, and urinary flow was improved 6 and 12 months after treatment of documented BPH.
