Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has withstood the test of time as a safe and effective treatment for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Like any other surgical procedure, TURP is not without complications. Hazards such as bleeding and transurethral resection (TUR) syndrome, together with the necessity of a relatively long learning curve, have stimulated the urologic community to search for easier and safer methods of endoscopic treatment for BPH. Among the various less-invasive endoscopic treatments for BPH, GreenLight laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate (GLL PVP) has proven to be the most widely accepted modality of treatment and has gained considerable appeal for urologists in the past decade. The techniques of GLL PVP are improving, and some urologists have raised the question of whether classical TURP, "the gold standard endoscopic treatment" for BPH, is in a real danger of being replaced [ 1 ]. Data from several studies support the role of GLL PVP as a well-tolerated and efficient method of treatment for symptomatic patients with BPH [2,3].
展开▼