Two years on: GreenLight laser

This study compared the long-term safety and effectiveness of two surgical techniques used to treat prostate enlargement.

The researchers concluded that the GreenLight procedure provides a safe and lasting treatment option for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The procedure was associated with similar long-term effectiveness and safety outcomes as the current surgical standard-of-care.

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the most common surgery used for treating BPH related symptoms. It involves the destruction of prostate tissue through a wire loop inserted into the urethra (the penile opening). Removing enlarged tissue from the prostate allows a better flow through the urethra and relieves symptoms of BPH.

The GreenLight procedure is a type of laser surgery that has recently emerged as a less invasive alternative to TURP. With this procedure, high-intensity pulses of light are passed through a fiber inserted into the urethra to vaporize enlarged prostate tissue. However, data regarding the long-term outcomes of GreenLight laser is limited.

281 men with BPH were included in this study. Men were randomly assigned to receive treatment with either the GreenLight procedure or with standard-of-care TURP. Procedure outcomes were compared and followed-up on for two years.

There were no differences in treatment effectivity between the two procedures. Both reported similar reductions in prostate size, prostate-specific antigen levels and urinary symptoms. Improvements were maintained in both groups at two-year follow-up.

Recovery time and overall time spent in hospital was shorter among men undergoing the GreenLight procedure. In addition, more men were complication-free two years after the GreenLight procedure (84% of men), compared to men who underwent TURP (79% of patients). Reports of adverse effects or the need for surgical retreatment during the two-year study period were equally low for both procedures.

The researchers concluded that GreenLight laser is as effective and safe as the current standard-of-care, and may provide an adequate alternative to TURP.