Evidence as to the efficacy/effectiveness and safety of treatment of benign hyperplasia of prostate using 80W KTP or green laser technique is of low quality, and is largely based on uncontrolled clinical series and short follow-up times. Study results indicate that this technique is effective, leads to significant improvements in IPSS, Qmax and VPR, requires a short hospital stay and entails prompt withdrawal of the urethral catheter. Drawbacks include its unsuitability for the purpose of taking histopathological specimens and the complexity involved in performing a total ablation of prostatic tissue.
It is a safe technique that has a low complication rate, requires no blood transfusion and can be done in the absence of post-resection transurethral reabsorption syndrome. The most frequent complications are dysuria, polakyuria, retrograde ejaculation, urethral constriction, clot retention and haematuria. The procedure can be performed on patients having high surgical risk, oral anti-coagulation therapy or large-sized glands, with a minimal risk of bleeding. GreenLight laser has a short learning curve but should nonetheless be performed by professionals with experience in this technique.
Studies of good methodological quality are called for, as is a cost-effectiveness study to compare the results of this technique against those of transurethral resection of the prostate, the gold standard for treatment of BHP.
