Objectives:
To investigate the impact of preoperative detrusor underactivity (DU) on serial treatment outcomes over the course of 5 years after photovaporization (PV) or holmium laser enucleation (HoLEP) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), to compare its impact after PV vs HoLEP, and to identify predictors of long-term lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) improvement.
Materials and methods:
This study involved 245 patients with BPH who had complete 5-year follow-up data (PV using 120W-HPS, n = 143, HoLEP, n = 102), grouped as follows: PV-HPS-DU(+), n = 114; PV-HPS-DU(-), n = 29; HoLEP-DU(+), n = 56; and HoLEP-DU(-), n = 46. Bladder contractility index (BCI) < 100 was regarded as DU. Serial treatment outcomes for the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, uroflowmetry and serum PSA level at 6 months, and at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years after surgery, were compared among the groups. LUTS improvement was defined as a reduction in total IPSS of ≥50% relative to baseline.
Results:
Improvement in total IPSS, quality of life (QoL) index and post-void residual urine volume (PVR) in the PV-HPS-DU(+) and PV-HPS-DU(-) groups were maintained up to 5 years after PV, except for maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax ) and bladder voiding efficiency. In the HoLEP-DU(+) and HoLEP-DU(-) groups, improvements in all outcome variables were maintained up to 5 years after HoLEP. Deteriorations in subtotal voiding symptom score, total IPSS and Qmax with time during the long-term period after surgery were more pronounced in the PV-HPS-DU(+) and HoLEP-DU(+) groups than in the PV-HPS-DU(-) and HoLEP-DU(-) groups. Reductions in subtotal voiding symptom score, total IPSS, QoL index, and serum PSA were greater in the HoLEP-DU(+) group than in the PV-HPS-DU(+) group throughout follow-up. The type of surgery (HoLEP vs PV) and higher baseline BCI were independent predictors of LUTS improvement at 5 years after surgery.
Conclusion:
Generally, improvement of micturition symptoms, QoL and PVR in patients with DU appears to be maintained up to 5 years after PV or HoLEP. Deterioration of voiding symptoms and urinary flow rate at long-term follow-up visits after PV or HoLEP was more pronounced in patients with LUTS/BPH with DU than in those without DU. Patients with BPH with DU may benefit from more complete removal of prostatic adenoma by HoLEP and greater baseline bladder contractility in terms of micturition symptoms and QoL.
