Interstitial thermometry in men undergoing electrovaporization of the prostate

Background and Objectives: Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostat e (TVP) has been utilized increasingly in the therapeutic management of ben ign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The temperature profile within both prosta tic and periprostatic tissue has been presented as a parameter of safety in various preliminary studies. This prospective study measured interstitial temperature during TVP in both the prostate and the surrounding tissue of 1 8 men. Methods: These 18 men undergoing TVP had three interstitial thermocouple pr obes placed under ultrasound guidance. Probes were positioned in the rectal wall and at the 5 and 7 o'clock position of the prostate capsule. A fourth probe was placed within 1 mm of the area of vaporization to determine "les ion" temperature. Temperature was measured at baseline and at 15-minute int ervals as TVP was performed utilizing the VaporTrode at 240 to 280 W with a Valley Lab Force 40 generator. Results: The maximum temperature variability was 1.9 degrees C. The tempera ture within 0.5 mm of the area of vaporization was > 100 degrees C. These r esults were independent of the temperature of the irrigating solution. Conclusions: These results provide compelling evidence that high vaporizati on temperatures do not affect surrounding prostatic tissue. In theory, the risk of injury to either the rectum or the neurovascular bundle during TVP should be extremely low.