Abstract
From August 1992 to September 1994, we conducted Visual Laser Ablation of the Prostate (VLAP) with Urolase on 103 patients. At present, 79 patients had been subjected to through workups for more than 3 months. Average operation time time and total laser energy were 17.8 and 29614 jules, respectively. Totally, AUA symptom scores decreased from 22.5 to 7.9, 8.5 and 9.0 at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, respectively (p0.0001). Peak urinary flow rate (PFR) increased from 8.1ml/sec to 16.0, 15.1 and 13.5ml/sec (p0.0001). Recidural urine volume decreased from 75ml to 34 (p0.0001), 35 (p0.0006) and 42ml (p0.01). Sonographically measured volume of the prostate gland decreased fron 31.7 to 24.5, 27.0 and 27.0cc (p0.0001). Sixty-three of 79 (79.9%) patients, 43 of 60 (71.7%) and 27 of 38 (71.0%) showed as successful cases at 3, 6 and 12 months follow up.
We found VLAP to be a cost-effective and less morbid alterative to traditional transurethral resection of the prostate.
