TRANSRECTAL LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PROSTATIC PROBLEMS:

A PILOT STUDY

抄録

A pilot study is presented on the transrectal application of helium neon (HeNe) laser energy (20 mW, c/w) via a specially-designed probe for the treatment of chronic prostatitis in a patient population of 235. Laser therapy was administered at doses of from 11.5∼14.4 J per 12∼15 minute daily session, with 8∼12 sessions required. Results were graded as: good (complaints relieved, ultrasound assessment, uroflowmetry and speed of micturation normal, and semen tests showed no inflammation); satisfactory (complaints reduced with partial improvements as above); and negative (little or no change). 70.2% were graded good, 20.9% as satisfactory and 21% as negative. The same system was also applied in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), in a patient population of 167 (69 BPH I and 98 BPH II). 12∼15 daily sessions of 20 min were required, with doses of 19.0∼20.8 J per session. With the same grading criteria as for the prostatitis group, results were good in 14.4%, satisfactory in 42.5% and negative in 43.1%. An additional group of 13 patients with prostatodynia received 5∼6 daily sessions of from 8 to 10 minutes, average dosage of 8.8 J/session. All 13 patients were graded good. All patients in the three groups had received conventional medical therapies, some over a period of years, but without effect. Although there was no attempt at double blinding in the present study, the author suggests that the positive results should encourage such a double blind trial to be set up, and that HeNe low level laser therapy (LLLT) applied transrectally is a valid alternative or adjunctive therapy for the minimally invasive and painless treatment of prostatic problems.