EFFICACY OF LASER PROSTATECTOMY AT 2-YEARS FOLLOW-UP

A total of 32 patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia w ere treated with the right-angle firing neodymium:YAG laser fiber at a 60 W power setting, All these patients represented a high operative r isk (ASA score greater than or equal to 3) and were excluded by the an esthesiologist for classic surgical treatment, Twenty-six patients wer e followed at least 24 months; the six remaining patients died of inte rcurrent disease, Efficacy of treatment was assessed at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively by International Prostatic Symptom Score s, peak urinary flow rates, prostatic volume, and radiographic or endo scopic imaging of the prostatic urethra, The mean preoperative symptom score was 25, the mean peak urinary flow rate 7.6 mL/sec, and mean pr ostatic volume 31 cc. At 2 years postoperatively, the mean symptom sco re was 5, the mean peak urinary flow rate was 19.3 mL/sec, and the mea n prostatic volume was 18 cc, In two elderly patients, in spite of a s ignificant improvement of symptomatology and peak flow rate, a surpris ingly obstructed prostatic urethra was found endoscopically.