Real-world experience of water vapour therapy (Rezum) in patients with benign prostatic enlargement: a retrospective single-center study

Mathias Wolters; Martin Krastel; Thorben Winkler; Hamza Idais; Mehrdad Mazdak; Hossein Tezval; Markus A Kuczyk; Christoph-A J von Klot

doi:10.1038/s41391-024-00836-w

Real-world experience of water vapour therapy (Rezum) in patients with benign prostatic enlargement: a retrospective single-center study

Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2024 Apr 24. doi: 10.1038/s41391-024-00836-w. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Mathias Wolters¹, Martin Krastel², Thorben Winkler³, Hamza Idais², Mehrdad Mazdak⁴, Hossein Tezval², Markus A Kuczyk², Christoph-A J von Klot²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Carl-Neuberg-Str.1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. wolters.mathias@mh-hannover.de.
² Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Carl-Neuberg-Str.1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
³ Department of Urology, DIAKO Hospital Flensburg, Knuthstraße 1, 24939, Flensburg, Germany.
⁴ Department of Urology, St. Bernward Hospital Hildesheim, Treibestraße 9, 31134, Hildesheim, Germany.

PMID: 38658736
DOI: 10.1038/s41391-024-00836-w

Abstract

Background: Water vapor thermal therapy (Rezum) is a minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic enlargement (BPE). Studies reporting urodynamic results regarding the procedure are rare. Our study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Rezum on urinary outcome parameters in a consecutive series of patients and compare urodynamic data before and after treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated all the patients treated with Rezum between 07/2017 and 12/2023 at our institution. Patients who had more than one Rezum intervention, those who were unable to void (i.e., catheter-dependent patients), and those with insufficient data were excluded from the data analysis. Descriptive outcomes, such as symptom scores (IPSS, IPSS-QoL), peak flow in uroflowmetry (Qmax), post-micturition residual urine volume (PVR), and prostate volume (PVol), were analyzed. If available, preoperative and postoperative urodynamic results were evaluated.

Results: In total, 250 Rezum procedures were performed during the observational period. After applying the exclusion criteria, the data from 193 patients were included in the analysis. Patients achieved significant symptom relief as measured using the IPSS (46% reduction) and IPSS-QoL scores (41% reduction). Qmax improved by 4.8 ml/s, as the mean PVR significantly decreased by 50%. PVol and PSA values decreased by 30% and 27.5%, respectively. In 19/193 patients with a urodynamic evaluation, pre- and postoperative data analysis showed a significant reduction in the bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI) by approximately 70%.

Conclusions: Rezum is effective and can improve urinary symptoms. In appropriate patients, Rezum can significantly reduce the bladder outlet obstruction (BOO).