Prostate Laser Photovaporization in Older People With and Without Bladder Catheter

Objectives: To compare results of prostate laser photovaporization (PVP) by age groups to evaluate morbidity and functional results. Then, to specifically analyze surgical data for patients with an indwelling bladder catheter.

Design: Monocentric retrospective study of a prospective maintained database of all laser PVPs performed at our university hospital between December 2012 and June 2017.

Settings and participants: A total of 305 patients (three groups: younger than 70, 70-80, and older than 80 years) were operated on in our hospital center for the treatment of urinary tract disorders related to benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Results: A difference was found between the three age groups, with a higher rate of complications for patients older than 80 years (45%) (P = .013). Rate of patients with postoperative bladder catheters at 1 year was higher for patients older than 80 years (15%) (P = .004). Postoperative quality-of-life (QoL) score was worse for patients older than 80 years (P = .04). For patients with an indwelling bladder catheter undergoing surgery, morbidity was greater in patients older than 80 years, but the difference was not significant. International Prostate Symptom Score and QoL score were not significantly different between the three groups. Rate of patients with a remaining bladder catheter at 1 year was higher for patients older than 80 years (17.1% vs 7.1% for patients between 70 and 80, and 4.8% for patients under 70.) but with no statistical difference.

Conclusion: PVP had a greater morbidity in octogenarians compared to younger subjects. Functional results were less satisfactory for patients older than 80 years compared to younger ones. For subjects operated on with an indwelling bladder catheter, no significant difference in outcome and morbidity was found between the three groups. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1888-1894, 2019.