Ejaculation preserving HoLEP/TURP for benign prostatic hyperplasia: myth or reality

Objectives: To analyze whether technical modifications during transurethral resection of the prostate/holmium laser enucleation of the prostate results in preservation of antegrade ejaculation, at the same time providing effective relief from bladder outlet obstruction. Materials and methods: A total of 119 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were included in the study carried out at our center between March 2016 and December 2018. The patients were divided into two groups, with 56 (47.06%) patients in the ejaculation-preserving transurethral resection of the prostate group and 63 (52.94%) patients in the ejaculation-preserving holmium laser enucleation of the prostate group. The patients in the two groups were assessed with respect to age, prostate size, serum prostate-specific antigen and any comorbidity. The parameters assessed pre and postoperatively include Q(max), international prostate symptom score, peripheral vascular resistance, overall sexual satisfaction and overall ejaculation. All patients were regularly followed up during the study period and were included in the final analysis. Results: The mean (standard deviation) age, prostate size, serum prostate-specific antigen of patients who underwent ejaculation-preserving transurethral resection of the prostate and patients who underwent ejaculation-preserving holmium laser enucleation of the prostate was 61.67 (5.26)/61.48 (5.40) years, 59.75 (10.61) ml/74.44 (20.27) ml, 2.38 (0.77) ng/ml/2.47 (0.83) ng/ml, respectively. Postoperatively there was a statistically significant improvement in Q(max), international prostate symptom score and peripheral vascular resistance in both groups. The overall sexual satisfaction after surgery improved significantly in the ejaculation-preserving transurethral resection of the prostate group; however, it deteriorated significantly in the ejaculation-preserving holmium laser enucleation of the prostate group, which was statistically significant at 6 months. After treatment, the overall ejaculation assessed by asking question 9 of the international index of erectile function 15 questionnaire was unchanged in patients from the ejaculation-preserving transurethral resection of the prostate group and deteriorated in the ejaculation-preserving holmium laser enucleation of the prostate group and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant. Conclusion: An ejaculation preserving technique seems to be more feasible in small prostate glands when appreciable apical tissue is spared. However, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate is basically a size-independent procedure and enables the complete removal of the adenoma tissue like an open prostatectomy. To compromise the extent of tissue removal or candidate selection for a better ejaculation preservation outcome might damage the indigenous value of the holmium laser enucleation of the prostate. To conclude, if the preservation of sexual satisfaction and ejaculatory function is a priority, patients should be offered ejaculation-preserving transurethral resection of the prostate as the treatment of choice over ejaculation-preserving holmium laser enucleation of the prostate.