Potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser vaporisation of the prostate for benign prostatic obstruction

Summary

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser vaporisation of the prostate for benign prostatic obstruction in May 2005.

This guidance has been withdrawn as the use of this procedure is now covered in the clinical guideline on the management of lower urinary tract symptoms in men, published in May 2010, www.nice.org.uk/cg97. NICE has no plans to carry out further assessment of this procedure under the Interventional Procedures Programme.

Description

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a non-malignant disease of the prostate which may lead to gland englargement that can cause prostatic obstruction.

This obstruction can be managed medically or surgically. The gold standard surgical treatment is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). However, the relatively high morbidity for this procedure has led to the development of a range of minimally invasive techniques.

KTP laser (60- 80 W) vaporisation (which may also be referred to as photoselective vaporisation of the prostate) invovles the insertion of a small flexible fibre-optic tube into the urethra. Light pulses are then sent through this fibre 'vaporising' and removing the prostatic obstruction. A urethral catheter may then be left in place for 18-28 hours after the procedure.

The procedure can be conducted in an outpatient setting, with the average procedure taking approximately 30 minutes to perform.

Details

Contact details:

Links: