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Purpose: Greenlight laser is a mini-invasive technique used to treat Benign Prostatic Obstruction (BPO). Some of the advantages of GreenLight photoselective vaporization (PVP) are shorter catheterization time and hospital stay compared to TURP. Post-operative acute urinary retention (pAUR) leads to patients' discomfort, prolonged hospital stay and increased health care costs. We analyzed risk factors for urinary retention after GreenLight laser PVP., Materials and Methods: In a multicenter experience, we retrospectively analyzed the onset of early and late post-operative acute urinary retention in patients undergoing standard or anatomical PVP. The pre-, intra- and post-operative characteristics were compared betweene patients who started to void and the patients who developed post-operative urinary retention., Results: The study included 434 patients suitable for the study. Post-operative acute urinary retention occurred in 39 (9%). Patients with a lower prostate volume (P < .001), an adenoma volume lower than 40 mL (P < .001), and lower lasing time (P = .013) had a higher probability to develop pAUR at the univariate analysis. The multivariate logistic regression confirmed that lower lasing time (95% CI: 0.86-0.99, OR = 0.93, P = .046) and adenoma volume (95% CI: 0.89-0.98, OR = 0.94, P = .006) are correlated to pAUR. Furthermore IPSS ≥ 19 (95% CI: 1.19- 10.75, OR = 2.27, P = .023) and treatment with 5-ARI (95% CI: 1.05-15.03, OR = 3.98, P = .042) are risk factors for pAUR., Conclusion: In our series, post-operative acute urinary retention was related to low adenoma volume and lasing time, pre-operative IPSS ≥ 19 and 5-ARI intake. These data should be considered in deciding the best timing for urethral catheters removal.

Background: Over the two past decades, GreenLight laser therapy has been considered a valid alternative for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia/benign prostatic obstruction (BPH/BPO). However, the debate on the effectiveness of laser therapy compared to conventional techniques is still open. The aim of our study is to analyze and describe the use of GreenLight laser prostate surgery in Italy, with regard to the surgical techniques performed and the surgical and functional outcomes at mid-term follow-up., Methods: From March 2012 to July 2018, patients who underwent GreenLight laser prostate surgery for LUTS due to BPH/BPO from 19 Italian centers were included. The following parameters were evaluated in the population: age, prostate volume, prostate adenoma volume, PSA tot, Qmax at uroflowmetry (UFM), International Prostatic Symptoms Score (IPSS), previous therapy for LUTS, use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs. We recorded also the kind of anesthesia, mean laser time (min), mean irradiation time (min), TURP conversion/completion rate, postoperative day of catheter removal, postoperative acute urinary retention (AUR), hospital stay, variation of hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin levels (Hb). Early complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, the re-operation rate within 30 days and after 30 days, the late complications and the Patient Global Impression of Improvement were also collected. Changes over time in terms of blood loss and functional outcomes (IPSS and Qmax at the UFM at 6 and 12 months) were tested with Student's test for paired samples. We assumed P≤0.05 as level of statistical significance., Results: Overall, 1077 were enrolled in the study, 554 (56.4%) were treated with standard vaporization and 523 (48.6%) with anatomical vaporization. Student's t-test for paired samples showed no statistically significant differences in terms of reduction of Ht preoperative vs. Ht postoperative (42.80±3.91 vs. 39.93±5.35 95% CI P=0.3) and preintervention and postintervention Hb levels (14.28±1.46 vs. 13.72 P=0.35). Compared with the preoperative Qmax (8.60±2.64), the 6- and 12-month UFM showed a significant improvement [19.56±6.29, P<0.01 and 19.99±5.92 P<0.01]. In terms of IPSS variation, compared to the baseline level (22±5.51) the 6- and 12-month follow-up confirmed a significant reduction (8.01±4.41 P<0.01 and 5.81±4.12 P<0.01 respectively). Postoperative complications were CD0, CD1, CD2, CD3, CD4 in 33.0%,35.3%, 2.9%, 0.3%, and 0.6%., Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the most numerous surgical series of GreenLight laser vaporization and with the longest follow-up. This technique should be considered as a safe and effective alternative in the treatment of secondary LUTS to BPH.

Introduction: GreenLight laser vaporization of the prostate (photoselective vaporization of the prostate [PVP]) is a safe and effective procedure for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Long-term results and advantages of PVP in patients with large and symptomatic prostate are still under evaluation. Materials and Methods: In a multicenter experience, patients who underwent standard or anatomical PVP were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with follow-up >12 months were divided into two groups based on prostate volume (<100 cc vs ≥100 cc). Pre- and perioperative data, as well as postoperative results and complications, were recorded after 3, 6, and 12 months and then annually. Results: One thousand and thirty-one patients were eligible, 916 of these had a prostate volume of <100 cc and 115 ≥ 100 cc. Median follow-up period was 25.0 months (interquartile range [IQR] 16.5-35.0) and 16.0 months (IQR 12.0-24.0) in ≥100 and <100 groups, respectively. No difference was found in terms of catheterization time, postoperative stay, and postoperative acute urine retention. Patients with prostate ≥100 required longer operative time (75 vs 55 minutes), lasing time (41.7 vs 24.9 minutes), and higher energy used but lower energy density. Patients with prostate ≥100 had a higher incidence of early (50.4% vs 35.7%) and late complications (21.7% vs 12.8%) and early urge/incontinence symptoms (40.9% vs 29.3%). No statistically significant differences were found for the maximum urinary flow (Qmax) and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) results between the two groups. The reintervention rate in ≥100 group was 3.5% vs 2.3% in <100. Conclusions: In the midterm follow-up, GreenLight PVP guarantees the same results in different prostate volume groups. Early and late complications are more frequent in large prostates.

Purpose: Aim of this systematic review is to evaluate functional outcomes (Qmax, QoL, IPSS, PVR), sexual outcome (erectile dysfunction and anejaculation rate), and adverse events evaluated according to the Clavien-Dindo classification., Methods: The bibliographic search with the included terms (prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic enlargement, lower urinary tract symptoms, water jet dissection, aquablation, Aquabeam®) produced a literature of 32 articles altogether. After removing papers of not interest or articles which the outcomes could not be deduced, nine studies were examined for a total of 664 patients screened., Results: The functional outcomes, evaluated after water jet dissection, have shown improvement with respect to the baseline in all the selected articles. In the comparison papers with the TURP, the Aquablation has been statistically not inferior regarding functional outcomes. The sexual outcomes have highlighted a better ejaculation rate for water jet dissection than TURP. Regarding the adverse events, water jet dissection documented low rates of adverse events and, in comparison studies, were not statistically superior than TURP., Conclusions: In our systematic review, the Aquabeam® System for the treatment of LUTS/BPH has proven to be a safe technique that provides functional outcomes comparable to TURP. About sexual outcomes, the most important data is certainly the low rate of retrograde ejaculation. However, other multicenter randomized trials with larger cohorts and longer follow-up are still needed.

Background: Many potential chemopreventive agents have been used in PCa prevention, including selenium (Se) and lycopene (Ly). However, their role has been matter of debate over the years, due to potential of promotion of PCa., Purpose: In this study we aimed at evaluating the incidence risk of prostate cancer (PCa) in a cohort of patients treated with Se and Ly., Methods: The Procomb trial design has been previously published (ISRCTN78639965). From April 2012 to April 2014 209 patients were followed and underwent prostate biopsy when PSA ≥4 ng/ml and/or suspicion of PCa. The all cohort was composed by patients treated with Se and Ly (Group A = 134 patients) and control (Group B = 75 patients)., Results: During the follow-up time of 2 years, a total of 24 patients (11.5%) underwent prostate biopsy, of which 9 (4.3%) where diagnosed with PCa and 15 (7.2%) where diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. We did not observe statistical differences in terms of mean changes of PSA between the two groups (p-value for trend = 0.33). The relative risk (RR) for PCa was 1.07 and 0.89 in group A and B, respectively (p = 0.95). At the multivariate Cox regression analysis supplementation with Se and Ly was not associated with greater risk of PCa (hazard ratio: 1.38; p = 0.67)., Conclusion: In this analysis we did not show evidences supporting a detrimental role of Selenium and Lycopene supplementation in increasing PCa after 2 years of therapy, nor supporting a protective role., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Background: Phytotherapy has been used to treat patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of combination therapy between Serenoa Repens (SeR), Lycopene (Ly), and Selenium (Se) + tamsulosin versus single therapies., Methods: PROCOMB trial (ISRCTN78639965) was a randomized double-blinded, double-dummy multicenter study of 225 patients between 55 and 80 years old, PSA ≤ 4 ng/ml, IPSS ≥12, prostate volume ≤60 cc, Qmax ≤15 ml/sec, postvoid residual urine (PVR) <150 ml. Participants were randomized group A (SeR-Se-Ly), group B (tamsulosin 0.4 mg), group C (SeR-Se-Ly + tamsulosin 0.4 mg). The primary endpoints of the study were the reduction of IPSS, PVR, and increase of Qmax in group C versus monotherapy groups., Results: The decrease for combination therapy was significantly greater versus group A (P < 0.05) and group B (P < 0.01) for IPSS and versus group A (P < 0.01) for PVR from baseline to 6 months. A greater decrease in IPSS was observed for Group C versus group A (P < 0.01) and increase in Qmax versus group B (P < 0.01), from 6 months to 12 months. At one year, the changes of IPSS and Qmax were greater for Group C versus monotherapies (each comparison <0.05). The proportions of men with a decrease of at least three points (each comparison P < 0.05) and decrease of 25% for IPSS (each comparison P < 0.01) were greater for Group C., Conclusion: SeR-Se-Ly + tamsulosin therapy is more effective than single therapies in improving IPSS and increasing Qmax in patients with LUTS., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objectives: Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) associated to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) are very common in middle aged and older men. Since BPH, and the related therapies have a significant impact on a patient's Quality of Life (QoL), the health related quality of life (HQoL) evaluation is becoming an important aspect to be considered. The present study deals with the development and validation of a BPH disease specific questionnaire (Bononian Satisfaction Profile - BSP-BPH), considering HQoL in patients seeking medical help for BPH. The innovation of this questionnaire is that the patients' scores achieved are related to their subjective satisfaction., Materials and Methods: Questionnaire development: On the base of our previous experience with BSP-PC (a disease specific questionnaire assessing HQoL in prostate Cancer patients), of a careful review of other available instruments (SAT-P, SF-36, ICS-QoL, BPH-HqoL) and of three subsequent meetings with experts (10) and patients (20), we defined the ten life aspects mostly impaired by BPH. We created a first 72-item version of the BSP-BPH. Ten patients cross matched for age end education to our study population were asked to fill in the questionnaire. A 31 item questionnaire version, together with EuroQoL, an already generic validated instrument, was administered to 121 patients as well. Further meetings and statistical analysis defined the 18 items of the BSP- BPH. Questionnaire validation: the BSP-BPH was filled in by 435 patients enrolled in a campaign for detection of prostatic diseases held among the male population of Bologna., Results: Questionnaire development: the participants' mean age was 63 years (N = 121); 47.1% had BPH. The 18 items were selected on the basis of the following criteria: a) r > 0.50, p < 0.05 (correlation test re-test); b) p < 0.05 (ANOVA presence vs absence of BPH); c) r > 0.50, p < 0.05 (correlation with EuroQol). Questionnaire validation: the participants' mean age was 63 years (N = 436). 16 patients with a history of neoplasia were excluded from our study. 21 were missing data. 45% of the sample had BPH. Principal component analysis identified 5 components: 1) satisfaction about sexual functionality (Cronbach alpha = 0.94); 2) satisfaction about social functionality (alpha = 0.80); 3) satisfaction about cognitive/emotional functionality (alpha = 0.82); 4) satisfaction about urinary functionality (alpha = 0.87); 5) satisfaction about physical functionality (alpha = 0.66); total Cronbach alpha was 0.88., Conclusions: The 18 items version of BSP-BPH questionnaire can be used as an instrument for HQoL evaluation in patients with BPH focusing on patients' subjective satisfaction. At the moment only the Italian version is available.