Transurethral microwave thermotherapy for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: Short-term experience with prostcare

Purpose: To assess our short-term experience with transurethral microwave t hermotherapy (TUMT) for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Pat ients and Methods: From August 1993 through July 1994, in total 65 patients with symptomatic BPH were enrolled into this study. The patients' ages ran ged from 56 to 95 years with a mean of 70 years. Under local anesthesia wit h intraurethral instillation of Xylocaine jelly only, all patients received one session of TUMT for up to 60 min with Prostcare equipment. Uroflowmetr y was performed and international prostatic symptom score (IPSS) determined before 3 and 6 months after TUMT for assessment of efficacy. All adverse e vents were recorded and evaluated for clinical relevance. Results: At 3 and 6 months following TUMT, the mean IPSS decreased from 19.7 +/- 6.8 (baseli ne) to 12.8 +/- 8.2 (-46%) acid to 15.5 +/- 9.0 (-21%), respectively; the m aximal urine flow rate at 3 and 6 months increased from 9.1 +/- 4.8 ml/s (b aseline) to 11.0 +/- 4.9 ml/s (+21%) and to 10.9 +/- 5.6 ml/s (+19%), respe ctively. During TUMT, burning sensation was the most frequent complaint (38 .5%), followed by urethral discomfort (29.2%) and urgency (9.2%). Two patie nts (3.1%) interrupted TUMT, because of intolerable pain. Following TUMT mi cturition pain (73.8%) and gross hematuria (45.9%) were the most adverse ev ents. Most of these adverse events disappeared within 2 weeks. One patient suffered from skin erosion over the penoscrotal junction 1 week later. None had retrograde ejaculation; 1 patient complained of erectile dysfunction. Conclusion: Although the efficacy of TUMT with Prostcare became less promin ent 6 months after TUMT, TUMT was still a tolerable, safe alternative treat ment of BPH, especially in patients who were not suitable for transurethral resection of the prostate or anesthesia. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.