PROSTATIC STENTS FOR BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have develope d rapidly over the past several years. These options include surgical intervention, medical therapy, and minimally invasive modalities such as prostatic stents.(1) Prostatectomy remains the treatment of choice for symptoms that are the result of bladder outflow obstruction, with success rates of 85-90%.(2) Medical therapy with selective alpha-1 ant agonists, 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors, LHRH angonists, antiandrogens, and aromatase inhibitors have increased in popularity and are mainly used to treat patients with mild to moderate prostatic obstruction.(3) Prostatic urethral stents have recently emerged as an alternative tre atment for BPH throughout Europe and Asia, but few investigators have used prostatic stents in the United States because of strict regulator y forces and a debate concerning the indications for these devices.(4) The possibility of providing a treatment option for BPH to patients w ho are frail and elderly, as well as to patients with multiple medical problems, has prompted enthusiasm toward prostatic stents in the urol ogic community. The focus of this review will be an up-to-date discuss ion of the types of prostatic stent available, including a review of r ecent clinical trials involving the use of each available stent.