Comparison of laser fiber degradation and perioperative outcomes following holmium laser enucleation of the prostate using 550 and 1000 µm fiber diameters

Objective: To compare perioperative and post-operative outcomes for holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) between cases performed with a 550 µm or 1000 µm fiber.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the most recent 50 patients undergoing HoLEP with a 550 µm fiber and the most recent 50 patients with a 1000 µm fiber. The length of exposed laser fiber after stripping was measured pre- and post-enucleation, with the difference being our primary outcome of degradation length. We compared operative and clinical characteristics between patients undergoing HoLEP using 550 and 1000 µm laser fibers.

Results: All 100 patients met inclusion for analysis. Overall, the 550 µm fiber experienced more degradation than the 1000 µm fiber (2.9 vs 1.9 cm, respectively; p = 0.01). The 1000 µm fiber utilized significantly less energy compared to the 500 µm fiber (81 vs 109 kJ, respectively; p < 0.01). In addition, operations performed with the 1000 versus the 500 µm fiber were overall shorter (79 vs 88 min, respectively; p = 0.03), although both groups had statistically similar times for enucleation (45 vs 51 min, respectively; p = 0.42) and morcellation (10 vs 9 min, respectively; p = 0.50). These findings occurred in the context of statistically similar prostate weight enucleated and bladder stones treated between groups. Post-operatively patients experienced no difference in blood loss or dysuria.

Conclusions: Use of the 1000 µm fiber resulted in significantly less fiber degradation, energy requirement, and total operative time during HoLEP, in spite of similar prostate size and time required for enucleation and morcellation. Different fiber diameters do not appear to affect post-operative blood loss or dysuria.