TRANSURETHRAL LASER-SURGERY WITH A CONVENTIONAL MODIFIED RESECTOSCOPE

A new 1,800-mu m side fiber made of pure silica with laser beam deviat ion of 82 degrees and divergence of 18 degrees was inserted into a mod ified transurethral resectoscope and used to treat in vitro some prost ates removed during radical prostatectomy. Sterilization of prostatic tissue with a depth of penetration of 12 mm was observed after treatme nt with 20 W for 2 min. Irradiation with 60 W for 1 min produced vapor ization and explosion of the tissue and a depth of penetration of 15 m m. The laser resectoscope was then successfully employed for the treat ment of 6 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as well as in hi gh risk patients with bulky bleeding bladder tumors (4 cases) and with transitional carcinoma of the prostate invading the parenchyma (2 cas es). 3 patients with small size BPH underwent only laser irradiation. All others were submitted to traditional transurethral resection follo wed by laser treatment with Nd: YAG using the same instrument. Our las er resectoscope lowers costs since the side fiber is reusable for 4-5 treatments and brings laser treatment nearer to traditional endoscopic treatment, thereby making its application more comfortable for the ur ologist.