Thick loop transurethral resection of the prostate

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the new resection loops for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). These loops, which are both thicker and have a modified shape, allow simultaneous resection, incre ased tissue vaporization, a nd im proved hemostasis. Methods: Two open stud ies have been performed with the thick resection loop. In one series, 91 pa tients underwent TURF with the Vapor Cut (G. Vallancien, Paris), and in ano ther series, 65 patients underwent Wedge (Microvasive, Natick, Mass., USA) resection (A. Perlmutter, New York). Results: At 1 year follow-up, patients who underwent thick loop resection enjoyed the same clinical benefit of th in loop TURF without additional morbidity. Peak urinary flow rate improved to 18.4 and 16.3 cm(3)/s at 1 year with the Vapor Cut and Wedge, respective ly. IPSS fell to 7.2 (Vapor Cut) and 6.2 (Wedge). Postoperative bleeding, m eatal stenosis, and urethral stricture were noted, but no impotence or inco ntinence was observed. Conclusions: Thick loop resection offers the advanta ge of improved surgical vision during resection, thus allowing a more accur ate and safer resection. This can be per formed with only minor modificatio ns of the standard TURP technique.