Quality of life changes following KTP/Nd : YAG laser treatment of the prostate and TURP

Objective: To compare health-related quality of life (HRQL) changes inpatie nts receiving hybrid KTP/Nd:YAG laser treatment of the prostate with TURF. Patients and Methods: Patients complaining of symptomatic benign prostatic enlargement were studied. Their symptoms (IPSS), disease-specific (BPH Impa ct Index (BPHII)) and generic HRQL (Short Form-36 (SF-36)) was evaluated be fore and at 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year following treatment. Results: 204 patients were randomized into the study. Patients in both groups reported a n improvement in IPSS and BPHII at each postoperative assessment, but there were significant differences be-tween the two groups at the 6-week stage i n favor of the TURF group. At 6 weeks, patients in the laser group reported significantly worse scores in the SF-36 domains of bodily pain, social fun ction and role emotional when compared to the TURF group. These differences disappeared at both the 6-month and 1-year follow-up assessments. Conclusi ons: Although hybrid KTP/Nd:YAG laser treatment and TURF differed in the wa y they affected patients in the early postoperative period, at 1 year, pati ents reported similar improvements in symptoms and enjoyed a similar diseas e-specific and generic HRQL.