Objective: To compare the validity and safety of diode laser and thulium laser transurethral enucleation of the prostate in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients.
Methods: In our study, 63 BPH patients treated with transurethral enucleation of the prostate were divided randomly into 2 groups by diode laser (Di group) or thulium laser (Thu group) respectively. The operation time, bleeding volume, electrolyte, international prostatic symptomatic score (IPSS), post-voiding residual volume (PVR) and maximum urine flow rate (Qmax) were recorded and compared.
Results: No difference was found in the 2 groups in basic preoperative characteristics. Di group was superior to Thu group in mean operation time [(61.5±19.6) min vs. (71.4±16.5) min, P=0.026] notwithstanding little clinical sense. The mean time of removing catheter was 2.1 d and 2.3 d respectively. No difference in either electrolyte decrease or hemoglobin decrease [(5.0±1.1 g/L) vs. (4.4±0.9) g/L, P=0.32] peri-operation between the 2 groups were found and no transurethral resection (TUR) syndrome was encountered. Lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) in both the groups were released the 1st and 3nd months post-operation effectively in IPSS, PVR and Qmax respectively and comparable (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Both the Diode laser and the Thulium laser transurethral enucleation of the prostate released the LUTS effectively in BPH patients and comparable in the short-time follow-up. Further study about late complications related to enucleation is necessary.