532 nm laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate

Over the past two decades, 532 nm wavelength laser vaporization has evolved to be a safe and effective alternative to TURP. Laser prostatectomy promises several advantages over TURP, including technical simplicity and the absence or minimization of complications such as intraoperative fluid absorption, bleeding, retrograde ejaculation, impotence, and incontinence. Outcomes data also have demonstrated a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery with improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms. Longer term follow-up in a randomized trial is necessary, but becoming available. Laser prostatectomy can treat larger glands with less physiologic stress, thus allowing treatment of patients with more medical comorbidities, including those on active anticoagulation. Increasingly, practicing urologists are performing laser prostatectomies on patients with symptomatic BPH, and this trend is certain to continue.