TRANSURETHRAL RADIO-FREQUENCY THERMOTHERAPY FOR SYMPTOMATIC BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

A total of 90 patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH) were treated with transurethral radio frequency thermotherapy. Th e treatment consisted of one 180-min session at 48-degrees-C. All pati ents were evaluated before treatment and 80 (10 with urinary retention ) were reevaluated at 3 months for follow-up. The analysis of the resu lts of this group of patients is the subject of this presentation. Res ults were defined according to the variation in three parameters: noct uria, symptomatic score (Madsen) and urinary peak flow. Improvement (d efined as a change of 50% or more in any of the three measured paramet ers) was found in 78% of the patients. Improvement in all of the above -mentioned parameters was found in 34.08% of the patients. In 29.82% o f the patients improvement was found in two parameters and 14.02% of t he patients improvement was found in one parameter and none in 21.30%. The percent variations in each parameter before and after treatment w ere: nocturia and symptom score decreased by 33.33% and 50%, respectiv ely, and urinary peak flow increased by 33.65%. Age was the most impor tant predictive factor. Of the patients under 65 years of age, 85% sho wed very good and good results. In comparison, only 42% of the patient s over 65 years showed similar results. Immediate complications were 4 cases of acute urinary retention (5.71 %) and 4 cases of urinary infe ction (5.71 %). Transurethral radio frequency thermotherapy, having a low toxicity and complication rate, has comparable results to other no nsurgical treatment modalities. It is a viable alternative treatment f or symptomatic BPH. However, to find a definitive indication for this treatment modality, new studies including more patients with a longer follow-up and proper randomized double-blind clinical trials are neede d.