Efficacy and safety of 120-W GreenLight High-Performance System laser photo vaporization of the prostate: 3-year results with specific considerations

PURPOSE: High-Performance System (HPS) laser photo vaporization of the prostate (PVP) is a widely used procedure nowadays. The safety and efficacy of the procedure has been affirmed in general patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), but data on the safety and efficacy in specific situations, such as in patients with a large prostate, patients taking anticoagulant or 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) medication, and patients with a history of acute urinary retention (AUR) or previous transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), is lacking. We investigated the safety and efficacy of HPS laser PVP in these unique patient groups. METHODS: The study was conducted from March 2009 to February 2012 among patients for lower urinary tract symptoms. Patients in whom BPH was diagnosed and who were treated with 120-W HPS GreenLight PVP were selected. Patients were divided into groups of prostate size above and below 80, anticoagulant medication, 5-ARI medication, AUR history, and TURP history on the basis of the preoperative history and physical examination. RESULTS: A total of 533 patients observable for a follow-up period of more than 6 months were enrolled as the study population. The patients’ mean preoperative prostate size was 51.0±32.7 mL and their mean prostate-specific antigen was 4.5±27.9 ng/mL. The average operating time was 24.5±12.2 minutes and the average applied energy during surgery was 152,184±89,495 J. Postoperative objective and subjective parameters in all groups were significantly improved compared with preoperative values. CONCLUSIONS: Laser resection of the prostate is safe and effective. The results of HPS laser PVP were not influenced by prostate size, the use of anticoagulants, the intake of 5-ARI for BPH management, a history of AUR, a history of TURP, or other factors. Thus, this study was able to reconfirm the efficacy and safety of laser resection of the prostate.