D. Minardi et al., Pressure-flow studies in men with benign prostatic hypertrophy before and after treatment with transurethral needle ablation, UROL INTERN, 66(2), 2001, pp. 89-93
Background/Aims: In this study we wanted to examine the effects that transu
rethral needle ablation (TUNA) might have on the urodynamic characteristics
of bladder outlet obstruction and to evaluate the clinical changes and the
safety profile in patients undergoing the TUNA procedure, including the ef
fects on erectile and ejaculatory function. Materials and Methods: We evalu
ated 24 patients, aged between 66 and 81 (mean 73.4) years with a mean pros
tatic volume of 57 +/- 15 mi. Before treatment, the clinical history was co
llected, then prostate-specific antigen (PSA) analysis, digital rectal exam
inations, I-PSS and quality-of-life (QOL) tests, uroflowmetry with residual
volume, and pressure-flow studies were performed in all patients. After tr
eatment, all the patients were evaluated at 6, 12 and 24 months by the same
parameters. Results: After treatment, the I-PSS and QOL scores were consid
erably improved, and the mean flow rate and the residual volume were also i
mproved. The serum PSA level remained unchanged. The prostatic volume was a
lmost unchanged, and pressure-flow studies showed a reduction in the mean o
pening pressure and detrusor pressure at maximum flow after treatment. None
of the patients complained of alterations in sexual activity nor retrograd
e ejaculation. Conclusions: Our study confirms that in patients with benign
prostatic hyperplasia, the TUNA procedure results in no major complication
s and in significant clinical improvements. There was an improvement in the
subjective and objective variables, such as symptom scores and frequency v
olume charts and, in the majority of patients, subjective and objective imp
rovements were sustained for the duration of this study, which included a 2
-year follow-up with pressure-flow studies. From our experience we can say
that the ideal candidate for TUNA treatment should be younger than 70 years
, with a prostatic volume of <60 cm H2O, with a baseline detrusor pressure
at maximum flow of <60 cm H2O, with a pretreatment residual volume of <100
mi and with a QOL score of <5. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.