Editorial comment on: Holmium laser enucleation versus transurethral resection of the prostate: 3-year follow-up results of a randomized clinical trial.

摘要

For many years open prostatectomy had been the primary treatment option in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) until it was gradually replaced by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Although TURP is still regarded as the gold standard in patients with BPH, it is associated with significant morbidity rates. In the last decade, therefore, various alternative treatment options such as holmium laser enuclea- tion of the prostate (HoLEP) and potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser vaporisation of the prostate have been developed. Many of these have fallen into oblivion because of low efficacy, high costs, and long learning curves, but a substantial number of articles have suggested that HoLEP might succeed as a valuable treatment alternative.