TRANSURETHRAL LASER-ABLATION OF THE PROSTATE (TULAP) - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS IN 188 PATIENTS

Laser therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is now the most i mpressive alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR- P), Transurethral laser ablation of the prostate (TULAP) is a new tech nique that combines non-contact and contact laser treatment of BPH. Fr om November 1992 to August 1994, 188 patients were treated by the TULA P technique. Their median age was 70.3 (58-87) years, The mean prostat ic volume determined by transrectal ultrasound, was 49.2 ml. A 6-month follow up was possible for 102 patients, The AUA 7-Symptom Score decr eased 29 points preoperatively 6 points after 6 months. Residual urine volume decreased from 205 mi to 27 mi after 6 months. Maximum flow ra te increased from 7.2 ml/s to 19.3 ml/s after 6 months. No severe comp lications were observed, and in particular no major bleeding or TUR sy ndrome. We regard the TULAP procedure as an effective treatment altern ative for obstructive symptoms caused by BPH.