[Prostatic urethral lift using Urolift® system for benign prostatic hyperplasia: 7years experience]

Introduction: Urolift® system is a mini-invasive technique, proposed as an alternative treatment for classic surgery of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Our objective was to report the results of Urolift® system in our center after 7years experience.

Patients and methods: Urolift® implants were proposed between February 2012 and March 2019 for patients presenting symptomatic BPH in our center, as an alternative for classic surgery. The efficacy was evaluated with questionnaires about lower urinary tract symptoms (IPSS) and its impact on quality of life (IPSS-QdV). Tolerance was evaluated with questionnaires about erectile (IIEF5) and ejaculatory function (MSHQ-EjD) and complication rate. Survival without additional treatment was assessed using Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: Forty patients were treated during this period, with a median follow-up of 32months [12-67]. Three months after the procedure, IPSS and IPSS-QdV were significantly improved (respectively 8 [4-11] vs 20 [17-24]; P<0.0001 and 2 [1-2] vs 5 [4-6]; P<0.0001). MSHQ-EjD and IIEF5 were not modified (respectively 13 [11-14] vs 12 [9-13]; P=0.69 and 21 [18-23] vs 21 [18-23]; P=0.13). Two patients (5%) experienced a urinary retention and needed a bladder catheter. No complication with a Clavien-Dindo score>2 were reported. Survival without additional treatment at 5years was 63%.

Conclusion: Urolift® implants improved significantly the lower urinary tract symptoms in our population, with a good tolerance profile. More than 60% of the patients did not need an additional treatment after 5years of follow-up.

Level of evidence: 3.