HIGH-INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND IN THE TREATMENT OF BENIGN HYPERTROPHY OF THE PROSTATE

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and open adenectomy are regarded the ''golden standard'' in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Various alternative treatment forms (microwaves, laser, radio frequency, focused ultrasound) have been introduced recently. They are all aimed at reducing the morbidity related to TURP while achieving comparable efficacy at the same time. Since December 1992, 35 patients with BPH have been treated with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU-P) in our department. By 6 weeks after HIFU-P, mean Q(max) had improved from 6.5 ml/s to 12.1 ml/s. Residual volume dropped from 207 ml to 95 ml, IPSS from 20.1 to 9.7. Both subjective as well as objective improvements remained stable after 3 and 6 months. Urinary tract infections were observed in 3 patients, macrohemato-spermia in all, and macrohematuria (caused by the suprapubic catheter) requiring blood transfusion in 1 patient.