Holmium laser enucleation (HoLEP) and photoselective vaporisation of the prostate (PVP) for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and chronic urinary retention

Abstract

To evaluate short-term outcomes of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and photoselective vaporisation of the prostate (PVP) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and chronic urinary retention (CUR). A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients with CUR who underwent HoLEP or PVP at our institution over a 3-year period. CUR was defined as a persistent post-void residual urine volume (PVR) of >300 mL or refractory urinary retention requiring catheterisation. We identified 72 patients with CUR who underwent HoLEP and 31 who underwent PVP. Preoperative parameters including median catheterisation duration (3 vs 5 months, P = 0.71), American Urological Association Symptom Index score (AUASI; 18 vs 21, P = 0.24), and PVR (555 vs 473 mL, P = 0.096) were similar between the HoLEP and PVP groups. The HoLEP group had a larger prostate volume (88.5 vs 49 mL, P < 0.001) and higher PSA concentration (4.5 vs 2.4 ng/mL, P = 0.001). At median 6-month follow-up, 71 (99%) HoLEP patients and 23 (74%) PVP patients were catheter-free (P < 0.001). Of the voiding patients, postoperative AUASI (3 vs 4, P = 0.06), maximum urinary flow rate (23 vs 18 mL/s, P = 0.28) and PVR (56.5 vs 54 mL, P = 1.0) were improved in both groups. Both HoLEP and PVP are effective at improving urinary parameters in men with CUR. Despite larger prostate volumes, HoLEP had a 99% successful deobstruction rate, thus rendering patients catheter-free.