TRANSURETHRAL LASER THERAPY FOR BENIGN PR OSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

During the last 4 years, transurethral laser therapy for benign prosta tic hyperplasia (BPH) has become an increasingly popular alternative t o transurethral resection of the prostate (TURF) for the treatment of obstructive BPH symptoms. Clinical data so far published prove the eff icacy of this new therapeutic modality, although the results are up to now possibly inferior to those achieved with TURF. On the other hand, the incidence of severe perioperative complications is significantly lower in patients treated with laser prostatectomy than in those under going TURP Therefore, laser prostatectomy is a reasonable adjunct to t he therapeutic spectrum for BPH in high-risk patients. Nevertheless, i ts role in the treatment of obstructive BPH in low-risk patients canno t be defined until long-term follow-up data are available.