Anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate: The next gold standard? No! (or not yet!)

One-year outcomes after prostate artery embolization versus laser enucleation: A network meta-analysis

Background

Although holmium laser enucleation (HoLEP) is considered a size-independent procedure for treatment of an enlarged prostate, prostate artery embolization (PAE) is emerging as an alternative modality to treat moderate and large benign prostatic hyperplasia. This study aims to compare the early post-operative and short-term efficacy of PAE and HoLEP.

Methods

PubMed, Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases were searched. Network meta-analysis was performed following PRISMA-N-guidelines. Post-operative parameters analysed include international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), post-void residual urine (PVR), maximal uroflow rate (Qmax) and serious adverse events (SAE). Random effects model calculated weighted mean differences (WMD). If 95%CI crossed the line of no effect (WMD = 0), evidence indicated no statistically significant difference between treatments compared.

Results

Qualitative and quantitative syntheses included 20 and 18 studies with 1991 and 1606 patients, respectively. At 3 months, there was no statistically significant difference between PAE and HoLEP in IPSS score improvement [WMD: -2.21: 95%CI: (-10.20, 5.78), favouring PAE], QoL score improvement [WMD: -0.22:95%CI: (-1.75, 1.32), favouring PAE] and PVR improvement [WMD: 26.97: 95%CI: (-59.53, 113.48), favouring HoLEP]. However, PAE was found inferior to HoLEP for Qmax improvement [WMD: 8.47, 95%CI: (2.89, 14.05), favouring HoLEP]. At 1-year follow-up, there was no statistically significant was found between PAE and HoLEP for IPSS score improvement [WMD:6.03, 95%CI: (-1.30, 13.35)], QoL score improvement [WMD: 0.03, 95%CI: (-1.19, 1.25)], PVR improvement [WMD:4.11, 95%CI: (-32.31, 40.53)] and Qmax improvement [WMD:2.60, 95%CI: (-2.20, 7.41)] with all differences favouring HoLEP. PAE was superior to HoLEP for SAE [PAE vs. HoLEP-OR: 0.68, 95%CI: (0.25, 1.37)].

Conclusion

HoLEP was superior to PAE at 3 months for Qmax improvement. There was no significant difference in IPSS, QoL, PVR and Qmax improvement at 1 year between PAE and HoLEP. PAE was also associated with lesser SAE compared to HoLEP. Studies on the long-term outcome of PAE are needed to establish the durability of early outcomes after PAE.

Functional and safety outcomes after benign prostatic enlargement surgeries in men with detrusor underactivity compared with normal detrusor contractility: Systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Men with detrusor underactivity (DUA) and concomitant bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) due to benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) may present poorer functional outcomes after surgical desobstruction. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BPE surgery in men with DUA compared with those with normal detrusor contractility (NC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This review was performed according to the 2020 PRISMA framework. A comprehensive literature search was performed until May 7, 2023, using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database. No date limits were imposed. Only comparative studies were accepted. The primary endpoint was to assess if there was any difference in short- and long-term functional outcomes after BPE surgery in men with DUA and NC. The secondary endpoint was to evaluate the differences in perioperative outcomes and postoperative complications between the two groups. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan) software.

RESULTS

There were 5 prospective nonrandomized studies and 12 retrospective studies, including 1701 DUA and 1993 NC patients. Regarding surgical procedures, there were eight TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) studies, four GreenLight PVP (photoselective vaporization of the prostate) studies, two HoLEP (Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate) studies, one GreenLight PVP/HoLEP study, one Holmium laser incision of the prostate study, and one study did not report the type of surgery. We did not find a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of perioperative outcomes, including postoperative catheterization time, hospitalization time, urinary retention, need to recatheterization, transfusion rate, or urinary tract infections. Also, we found no significant differences in long-term complications, such as bladder neck stenosis or urethral stenosis. Posttreatment bladder recatheterization and retreatment rate for BPE regrowth could not be evaluated properly, because only one study reported these findings. When we analyzed functional outcomes at 3 months, those with NC had lower International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS), lower quality-of-life (QoL) score, better maximum flow rate (Qmax), and lower post-voiding residual (PVR) of urine. These results were maintained at 6 months postoperatively, with exception of PVR that showed no difference. However, at 12 and more than 12 months the functional outcomes became similar regarding IPSS and QoL. There were few data about Qmax and PVR at longer follow-up.

CONCLUSION

In this meta-analysis, data suggest that BOO surgical treatment in patients with concomitant BPE and DUA appears to be safe. Despite patients with DUA may present worse functional outcomes in the short postoperative term compared with the NC population, IPSS and QoL scores become comparable again after a longer follow-up period after surgery.

Patients' perspectives on attributes while choosing minimally invasive surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia procedures: Experience from men undergoing water vapor thermal therapy

Objective To understand which attributes patients consider important when selecting treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) given differences in clinical and economic outcomes. Methods Men (n=170) with lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH who underwent water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT) between April 2019 and November 2020 in a Toronto urological clinic were invited to participate in an online survey. The survey included eight attributes of BPH surgical procedures and five attributes of WVTT. Patients were asked how important each attribute was to them before they selected a BPH procedure and decided to undergo WVTT. Results In total, 128 respondents (75%) completed the survey. A majority of the respondents were White (88%), married (83%), and aged 60-69 years old (45%). Approximately 97% of respondents rated the ability to avoid further BPH treatments as "very important" or "extremely important", followed by duration to return to normal activities (79%), and wait times to receive the procedure (57%). Only 47% of patients reported post-procedural catheterization was important. For WVTT, 98% of the respondents rated avoiding more invasive surgical treatments and 88% rated a quick recovery as important attributes. Conclusions Among men with moderate-to-severe BPH undergoing WVTT, the most important attributes for selecting a BPH surgical procedure were avoiding further BPH treatments, returning quickly to normal activities, and reducing treatment wait times. The majority of men chose WVTT to avoid more invasive procedures and had a quick recovery.

Thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuFLEP). Prospective study of mid- and long-term outcomes in 1328 patients

The objective of our study was to estimate the long-term efficacy and safety of thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuFLEP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analysed patients who underwent ThuFLEP due to LUTS related to BPO. Both the pre- and perioperative data as well as the follow-up data for 3 years were evaluated: prostate volume, post-void residual (PVR), Qmax, IPSS and QoL, PSA level and the complication rate. Intraoperative data relating to the weight of resected tissue, the duration of surgery, catheterization and data on hospital stays were also collected. A sub-group analysis was performed to assess whether older patients (>65 years) or those with larger glands (>80 cc) are prone to increased complication risks.

RESULTS

A total of 1328 patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 66.9±7.5 years. Mean prostate volume was 86.9±41.9 (20-330) cc. All the functional parameters (IPSS, QoL, PVR, Qmax) significantly improved after surgery (p<0.05) and showed durable improvement up to 3-years of follow-up. The frequency of late complications was as follows: stress urinary incontinence - 1.2%; urethral stricture -1.1%; bladder neck contracture - 0.9%. Sub-group analyses revealed increased UTI frequency in older patients (3.5% vs 0.8%, p=0.003) as well as higher rate of SUI (0.4% vs 1.8%, p=0.002) and higher rate of clot retention (11.3% vs 4.4%, p<0.001) in those with larger glands.

CONCLUSIONS

Irrespective of the patient's age and prostate volume, ThuFLEP represents an effective and durable technique of endoscopic enucleation characterized by a low incidence of complications after 3 years of follow-up. In the hands of an experienced surgeon, ThuFLEP can rightly be considered to be a promising alternative to HoLEP for treatment of LUTS associated with BPO.

Anatomical endoscopic enucleation of bladder outlet obstruction

Anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (AEEP) differs from other endoscopic modalities for bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) because it extracts the whole benign prostatic hyperplasia component. AEEP has been launched for almost 40 years as a first-line treatment method for BOO regardless of prostate size according to several guidelines. However, it remains underperformed worldwide. In this review article, we elaborate on the advantages and disadvantages of AEEP compared to other surgical modalities for BOO to investigate its efficacy and safety as a gold standard surgical management option for males with BOO.

Shedding light on polypragmasy of pain after transurethral prostate surgery procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and compare the incidences of post-operative pelvic pain (PPP) in patients undergoing ablation, enucleation and conventional transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Using MEDLINE via PubMed and Cochrane CENTRAL, randomised control trials (RCTs) and observational studies reporting PPP rates post-ablation, enucleation or TURP were identified. The risk of biases (RoB) in RCTs and observation studies were assessed using the Cochrane RoB1.0 tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, respectively.

RESULTS

62 studies were included for qualitative analysis, while 51 of them reported number of patients with PPP post-intervention. Three observational studies and 13 RCTs compared the rates of PPP in patients undergoing ablation, enucleation or TURP. The most reported types of PPP are dysuria, abdominal pain and irritative symptoms. The pooled incidence of PPP at 1-month follow-up in patients undergoing ablation, enucleation and TURP were 0.15 (95% CI 0.10-0.22), 0.09 (95% CI 0.04-0.19 and 0.10 (95% CI 0.06-0.15), respectively. PPP is no longer prevalent at 3-months and onwards post-operatively. Ablation is associated with a higher risk of PPP than enucleation (RR 2.19, 95% CI 1.04-4.62) and TURP (RR 2.40, 95% CI 1.03-5.62) in observational studies but not RCTs; and there were no significant differences in the rates of PPP upon comparison of other modalities.

CONCLUSION

PPP is common after transurethral benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery. Patients undergoing ablation had a higher rate of post-intervention PPP than those undergoing enucleation and TURP in observational studies.