ABSTRACT
(Introduction)HoLEP's role in the surgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is steadily growing. In this study, a questionnaire containing questions about perioperative management was submitted to HoLEP surgeons to help establish standard surgical training procedures. (Methods)We sent a comprehensive 17 questionnaires on HoLEP procedures to 18 surgeons. The questionnaire asked, "Which method are you using, the 1-LOBE or 3-LOBE method?", "What educational methods are being used for surgeons?", "How long is the catheter insertion period after HoLEP?", and "What is the most difficult problem encountered in surgical HoLEP education and what aspect of training is the most emphasized?" (Results)Sixteen (88.9%) surgeons answered these questionnaires. Five surgeons reported using the one lobe method, five surgeons reported using the three lobe method, and four surgeons answered that it depends on the case. Regarding educational methods, the main answer was that it is important to evaluate pre-HoLEP imaging tests such as MRI and cystoscopy and to simulate surgery for education. Regarding the postoperative catheter insertion period, 1 day: 1 surgeon, 2 days: 9 surgeons, 3 days: 3 surgeons, 4 days or more: 1 surgeon. The most important thing reported for surgical education was to help beginners understand the characteristics of lasers, including direction, distance to prostate tissue, and adenoma removal. (Conclusions)The surgeons' responses clearly indicated some differences in practices between institutions. More detailed data from these results will provide a step towards designing standardized surgical and educational protocols for HoLEP.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate has become an increasingly common surgical therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, the relationship between surgeon experience and surgical outcomes has not yet been fully investigated. In this study we investigated how surgeon experience with holmium laser enucleation of the prostate affected operative time, adverse events and outcomes related to urination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We gathered a total of 1,113 cases of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate from 5 hospitals in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Included were data on surgeon experience with the procedure, operative time, enucleation time, morcellation time, patient age, perioperative and postoperative surgery related complications, and outcomes related to urination. RESULTS: A total of 39 surgeons were included in analysis. Statistical data showed that increasing surgical experience significantly contributed only to surgical time, enucleation time and urinary incontinence after holmium laser enucleation (p = 0.0146, 0.0216 and 0.0405, respectively). No significant changes were seen postoperatively in surgery related factors such as morcellation time, resected prostate volume, infectious or noninfectious surgery related complications, or urination related outcomes (p >0.05) Experience with at least 20 cases in particular affected surgical time (p = 0.0050), enucleation time (p = 0.0068) and urinary incontinence after holmium laser enucleation (p = 0.0021). CONCLUSIONS: Surgeon experience contributed to shortened operative time and enucleation time, and to decreased postoperative urinary incontinence but not to surgery related complications or urination related outcomes as shown by maximum urine flow and post-void residual urine volume. We also found that experienced surgeons with 31 to 50 cases might be associated with complications after holmium laser enucleation in larger prostate cases. Based on these data further prospective studies are scheduled to establish a program for training in holmium laser enucleation of the prostate.
