HOLMIUM-YAG LASER RESECTION OF THE PROSTATE - PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCE WITH THE FIRST 400 CASES

Aim. To report the development of the technique of laser resection of the prostate using the holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) laser and to present preli minary results. Methods. Four hundred and eleven patients underwent Ho :YAG laser resection of the prostate (HoLRP). Preoperative and postope rative symptom scores, and flow rates were assessed. A description of the technique and its development is presented. Results. The mean Amer ican Urological Association (AUA) symptom score reduced from 23.6 to 4 .9, and the mean peak urinary flow rate improved from 7.7 ml/s to 22.6 ml/s at 6 months postoperatively. The mean hospital stay was 1.3 days and complication rates were lower than those generally associated with electrosurgical transurethral resection of the prostate (TURF). Concl usion. Transurethral resection of the prostate using Ho:YAG laser prod uces early results equivalent to or better than those usually associat ed with electrosurgical TURF, with a shorter hospital stay and a lower rate of complications.