Comparison of Holmium Laser Enucleation of Prostate versus Bipolar Resection of Prostate in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Prospective Interventional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Surgical treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) has advanced significantly in recent years. Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) is a minimally invasive procedure associated with a low risk of complications and clinical limitations, including life-threatening Transurethral Resection (TUR) syndrome, as, well as higher costs due to longer hospital stays and challenges in managing large glands. Aim: To compare the safety and effectiveness of prostate enucleation using Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) with bipolar resection of the prostate in cases of BPH. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based prospective interventional study was conducted in the Department of Urology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India, from January 2020 to July 2022. The study included 60 patients, divided into two groups of 30 each. Males aged ≥45 years with recurrent Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) secondary to BPH, with or without Acute Urinary Retention (AUR) (drug-refractory) or with failed medical therapy (alpha-blockers, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors), were included in the study. In the first group, HoLEP was performed (Group I), while in the second group (Group II), patients underwent bipolar resection. Data were analysed and statistically evaluated using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of patients in the HoLEP group was 60.25 years, while in the Bipolar TURP (B-TURP) group, it was 59.67 years. Both groups had similar proportions of patients with moderate urinary symptoms {International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)} and large prostates (>80 grams). The mean amount of irrigation fluid used (40.83±9 litres vs. 21.2±5.9 litres) and the duration of surgery (106.33±14.24 min vs. 67.4±9.73 minutes) were significantly higher in the HoLEP group compared to the B-TURP group (p-value<0.001). Postoperative catheterisation time (1.003±0.23 days vs. 2.38±0.52 days) (p<0.001) and length of hospital stay (3.2±0.65 days vs. 4.67±1.32 days) (p<0.001) were significantly longer in the B-TURP group compared to the HoLEP group. Both the HoLEP and bipolar resection of the prostate groups did not experience significant intraoperative or immediate postoperative complications; however, one patient in the HoLEP group developed urethral stricture as a late complication. Conclusion: The B-TURP procedure is an equally effective and feasible method for treating BPH patients, with a smaller learning curve and lesser financial burden.

Keywords

• bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate
• complications
• lower urinary tract symptoms
• prostate hyperplasia