Holmium laser prostatectomy

2.1.1 Benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) is due to a non-malignant enlargement of the prostate. It is a common cause of bladder outlet obstruction and lower urinary tract symptoms in men over 40 years of age. Holmium laser prostatectomy is used to treat BPO. The procedure is used both for resection and enucleation of prostatic tissue.

2.1.2 BPO can be managed medically or surgically. The standard surgical treatment of BPO is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). However, relatively high morbidity associated with TURP has led to the development of a range of minimally invasive techniques, some of which use thermal energy. One such minimally invasive technique is the use of a holmium:yttrium–aluminium–garnet (YAG) laser.

2.2.1 Holmium laser resection of the prostate uses the holmium laser and is performed with a modified continuous flow resectoscope that has a circular fibre guide in the tip of the scope. An end-firing laser fibre is used as a precise cutting instrument to resect large pieces of prostate. The laser is then used to cut the resected tissue into smaller pieces before their removal.

2.2.2 A further evolution of the procedure is holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, in which the intact prostatic lobes are removed with the holmium laser and then passed into the bladder where they are cut into smaller pieces before removal.

2.3.1 The studies reviewed showed that holmium laser prostatectomy is at least as effective as TURP at improving bladder neck obstruction, symptom scores and quality of life. Duration of catheterisation and hospital stay were reported to be shorter than for TURP. However, the studies were characterised by short follow-up periods and small sample sizes. For more details refer to 'Sources of evidence'.

2.3.2 The Specialist Advisors considered holmium laser prostatectomy to be established practice and preferable in many cases to TURP, requiring a shorter stay in hospital. Some Specialist Advisors were concerned about the completeness of evacuation of debris from the bladder after the procedure.

2.4.1 The studies revealed no significant differences in safety between holmium laser prostatectomy and TURP. Blood loss was reported to be lower with holmium laser prostatectomy than with TURP. For more details refer to 'Sources of evidence'.

2.4.2 Specialist Advisors had few concerns about the safety of holmium laser prostatectomy, although one expressed concern about damage to the bladder. The Specialist Advisors also noted that there was less blood loss with this procedure than with TURP.