Can bipolar transurethral enucleation of the prostate be a better alternative to the bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate?: A prospective comparative study

Evaluation of the efficiency of transurethral enucleation with bipolar energy according to prostate volume for patients with benign prostate hyperplasia

Background

This study evaluated the efficiency and safety of transurethral enucleation with bipolar energy (TUEB) using a spatula loop according to prostate volume.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 398 patients who underwent TUEB for benign prostatic hyperplasia at a single tertiary hospital between August 2018 and December 2022. The patients were divided into three groups according to estimated prostate volume (ePV): ≤40 mL (n = 67), 40-80 mL (n = 200), and ≥80 mL (n = 131). To compare the efficiency of TUEB, perioperative parameters including TUEB and enucleation efficiencies, were calculated as enucleated tissue weight per operation time and enucleated tissue weight per enucleation time, respectively. Preoperative and postoperative functional outcomes such as the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality-of-life (QoL) score, maximum flow rate (Qmax), and post-void residual urine volume (PVR), were also compared.

Results

The IPSS total score, voiding sub-score, Qmax, and PVR improved after TUEB in all groups (all p < 0.05). The TUEB and enucleation efficiencies increased with increasing ePVs (all P < 0.001). When comparing the three prostate volume groups, there were no significant differences in functional outcomes within 12 months after TUEB (all-Bonferroni adjusted P > 0.017). A total of 57 patients experienced adverse events after TUEB, with no significant differences between the three groups (p = 0.507).

Conclusion

As prostate volume increases, the perioperative efficiency of TUEB is enhanced. Meanwhile, small prostates did not show significant differences in the improvement of functional outcomes and complications in comparison with larger prostates.

Transurethral 1470 nm diode laser vaporization versus plasma kinetic enucleation of the prostate for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: A retrospective study

To compare the efficacy, safety, and complications of transurethral 1470 nm diode laser vaporization and plasma kinetic enucleation of prostate (PKEP) in benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment. A retrospective matched-paired comparison of patients treated using transurethral 1470 nm diode laser vaporization (n = 40) or PKEP (n = 40) was conducted. Baseline characteristics, preoperative data, and postoperative outcomes at the 24-month follow-up of the patients were recorded. The present study found no significant preoperative differences between the 2 treatment groups. Compared with PKEP, 1470 nm diode laser vaporization had a significantly shorter operation time and less intraoperative blood loss, but there were no marked differences between the 2 groups in terms of postoperative bladder irrigation time, catheterization time, and hospital stay. Moreover, at the 24-month follow-up postoperatively, there were no marked differences in the International Prostatic Symptomatic Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and post-void residual urine volume (PVR) between the 2 groups. IPSS, QOL, Qmax, and PVR had improved significantly compared to preoperative assessment at 24-month follow-up in both groups and there was no significant difference in the variation of IPSS, QOL, Qmax and PVR before and after the operation. Furthermore, complications were comparable between the 2 treatment groups. Transurethral 1470 nm diode laser vaporization and PKEP are effective strategies in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, 1470 nm diode laser vaporization offers advantages over PKEP in terms of shortening operation time and reducing intraoperative bleeding. Nonetheless, further research with a larger number of patients and long-term follow-up is necessary to confirm and validate these findings.

Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation for Overactive Bladder: Mechanism, Classification, and Management Outlines

Purpose of the Review. Posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) techniques have dramatically grown after approval to manage overactive bladder (OAB). The present review will focus on the most current data on PTNS types (percutaneous, transcutaneous, and implant) and their mechanism of action, safety, efficacy, advantages, drawbacks, limitation, and clinical applications. Recent Findings. The present review described the recent studies that addressed the tibial nerve stimulation role in OAB management. BlueWind RENOVA system, Bioness StimRouter, and eCoin are examples of emerging technologies that have evolved from interval sessions (percutaneous PTNS and transcutaneous PTNS) to continuous stimulation (implants). These can be efficiently managed at home by patients with minimum burden on the health system and fewer visits, especially in the COVID-19 pandemic. Summary. Our review shows that the tibial nerve stimulation advancements in OAB treatment have been rapidly increasing over the recent years. It is minimally invasive and effective, similar to sacral nerve stimulation (SNM), but less aggressive. Implantable PTNS has been promised in terms of efficacy, safety, and high acceptance rate. However, evidence is still limited to short-term trials, and tolerability, method, and drawbacks remain challenges.

Is the Peripheral Zone Thickness an Indicator of a Learning Curve in Bipolar Transurethral Plasma Enucleation of the Prostate?—A Single Center Cohort Study

Background

We conducted this cohort study to assess the differences in the learning curve of bipolar transurethral plasma enucleation of the prostate (B-TUEP) associated with prostatic peripheral zone thickness (PZT) under MRI quantitative measurements.

Methods

For the study, 60 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were involved. PZT are defined as “Thin” (<7 mm), “Thick” (>10 mm), and “Medium” (in between), with 20 patients in each group. Learning stages were defined as Group 1 (No. 1–20), Group 2 (No. 21–40), and Group 3 (No. 41–60). We measured parameters of the prostate, such as PZT and transitional zone thickness (TZT), with MRI. A learner with no experience in enucleation performed the operations. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the differences. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis evaluated the relationship between characteristics of patients. P < 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.

Results

One-Way ANOVA revealed different enucleation efficiency (0.811 ± 0.18 vs. 0.748 ± 0.14 vs. 0.634 ± 0.16), prostate volume (58.9 ± 15.33 vs. 57.3 ± 15.58 vs. 46.6 ± 14.10), and thickness of transition zone (44.45 ± 7.60 vs. 42.45 ± 6.08 vs. 34.78 ± 6.04) among Thin, Medium, and Thick groups. The enucleation efficiency is different between groups divided by learning stages (Group 1 vs. Group 3, 0.658 vs. 0.783; Group 2 vs. Group 3, 0.751 vs. 0.783). Pearson correlation analysis reveals that PZT was negatively correlated with prostate volume (r = −0.427), resection weight (r = −0.35), enucleation efficiency (r = −0.445), and TZT (r = −0.533), and was positively correlated with Q-max (r = 0.301) and bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI) (r = 0.388). The regression coefficients of PZT, TZT, prostate volume, and Q-max were −0.012, 0.008, 0.007, and 0.013, respectively (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Lower PZT is independent of higher enucleation efficiency, larger adenoma, and higher TZT. PZT may be an important factor on the learning curve of B-TUEP. Higher TZT, prostate volume. and Q-max may also relate to higher enucleation efficiency. For B-TUEP learners, it seems easier to perform the operation when the PZT is low, though more care should be taken with the capsule perforation. Further, the capsule plane should be maintained more attentively if the PZT is high.

Holmium laser enucleation versus bipolar transurethral enucleation for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia, which one is better?

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the overall efficacy and safety between holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and bipolar transurethral enucleation of the prostate (B-TUEP) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHOD

We systematically searched electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) to identify eligible comparative studies as of July 2021. The parameters including perioperative results, complications, and functional outcomes were evaluated. RevMan version 5.4 was used for the analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 10 studies involving 1725 patients were included. HoLEP had lower operative time (p = .03), shorter catheterization time (p = .007), lower bladder irrigation time (p = .01), and higher enucleation weight (p = .01) compared with B-TUEP. However, there were no significant differences between the techniques regarding the length of stay (LOS), hemoglobin drop, transfusion rates, and complications. Furthermore, no significant differences were also observed in postoperative functional outcomes at 1, 3, 6, 12, or 24 months.

CONCLUSIONS

HoLEP has more advantages in perioperative parameters compared with B-TUEP, but no significant differences are found regarding functional outcomes and complications. Large-scale studies with long-term follow-up are required to compare the outcomes of these two techniques.