INTERSTITIAL TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT DURING BALLOON LASERTHERAPY (PROSTALASE™) OF THE CANINE PROSTATE

Abstract

We examined the distribution of interstitial temperatures during balloon lasertherapy, using 4 mongrel canines. The laser equipment (CL50FS, SLT Japan Co. Ltd. Tokyo, Japan) consisted of Nd: YAG laser that produced 360 spindle-shaped radiation from a laser balloon (2cm long) with a water-cooled circulation system. By measuring the temperature 3-5 minutes after the beginning of the treatment, we obtained following results.
The temperature of the bladder neck and urethral sphincter remained below 42°C except under extreme conditions. The temperature at a 6mm depth from the prostatic urethra rose as laser energy increased, but was not affected by increased circulation of cooling water. The temperature at a 10mm depth from the prostatic urethra was not affected by either increased laser energy or increased circulation of cooling water. We concluded that the limit of tissue cooling is within 6mm and direct transmission of laser energy is within 10mm.
Distribution of the tissue temperature peaked at a 6mm depth in the prostatic urethra. When cooling water was circulated at a 200ml/min and laser-energy was generated at 30W, the temperature distribution demonstrated that at a 4-10mm depth from the prostatic urethra reached over 45°C and at a 6mm depth from the prostatic urethra, a peak of 52°C was obtained. The possibility of thermotherapy of the prostate was suggested.