2-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF ELECTROVAPORIZATION VERSUS RESECTION OF PROSTATE

Objectives: Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TUVP) h as become a popular, minimally invasive procedure to treat BPH with pr omising initial results. This study was conducted to compare the effic acy, safety and durability of TUVP with standard TURF. We report the 2 -year follow-up. Methods: 104 consecutive men with BPH admitted for su rgery were randomised to TUVP (52 patients, mean age: 67.5 years) or T URF (52 patients, mean age: 70.2 years). 47 patients in each arm compl eted 2-year follow-up. Results: Follow-up data at 2 years show a compa rable, significant and maintained improvement in mean IPSS (TUVP: 4.3 vs. TURF: 6.3), quality of life score (TUVP: 1.1 vs. TURF: 1.7), and m aximum flow rate (TUVP: 22.4 vs. TURF: 21.2 ml/s) with fall in mean po st-void residual volume (TUVP: 18.8 vs. TURF: 22.8 mi). Postoperative impotence reported in TUVP: 17% vs. TURF: 11%(p = 0.49) and retrograde ejaculation TUVP: 72% vs. TURF: 89% (p = 0.47). Two patients in each arm (4%) had urethral stricture and 2 patients (4%) in the resected gr oup had bladder neck stricture. Four patients in each group required r e-operation for residual adenoma during the 2 years (4% in each arm ea ch year). Conclusions: Our 2 years' follow-up results suggest that TUV P is as effective as standard TURF in the treatment of moderate-sized BPH with comparable durability.