#Shrink prostate trial#
The trial found that, one year after surgery:
Patients were not told which of the two procedures they were going to have.
They had lower urinary tract symptoms or urinary retention and were treated with either ThuVARP or TURP surgery. The UNBLOCS trial, led by researchers at the Bristol Urological Institute in conjunction with Bristol University Trials Centre, included 410 men from seven UK hospitals. It is called thulium laser transurethral vaporesection of the prostate (ThuVARP). Researchers wanted to compare TURP to the thulium laser technique, ThuVARP, which vaporises and cuts excess prostate. Laser procedures could have advantages such as a lower risk of complications and less time in hospital. But uptake has been relatively slow in many parts of the world, including the UK. It is usually successful, but it can sometimes cause complications such as bleeding during the operation and prolonged hospital stay.Īlternative techniques, such as surgery involving laser, have been developed over the last 20 years. TURP involves removing part of the prostate gland using a device passed through the urethra. The usual ‘gold standard’ surgery for enlarged prostate is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). These include slow flow and urinary retention (being unable to completely empty the bladder).Ģ5,000 men have an operation to reduce the size of their prostate every year, making it one of the most common procedures performed on the NHS. This does not have serious implications for health but it can cause urination problems. As men get older, it is common for the prostate to become enlarged. The prostate is a gland in men that surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder through the penis. TURP was also slightly more cost-effective and faster to perform than the laser procedure. However, men in the TURP group achieved a faster urinary flow rate (they could pass higher volumes of urine more quickly). There was no difference between the two procedures in terms of hospital stay or complications. They reported similar improvements in their urinary symptoms and quality of life. One year later, men in both groups were satisfied with their surgery. Men who needed a prostate operation were asked to consent to either procedure without knowing which one they would receive. The thulium laser, ThuVARP, vaporises excess prostate. The UNBLOCS trial compared the effectiveness of TURP to a new laser procedure which might reduce a patient’s hospital stay and cause fewer side effects. The most common procedure is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) which is usually successful but can lead to complications such as bleeding in some men. But it is common in men over 50 and some need surgery to treat troublesome urinary symptoms caused by the growing prostate. Two procedures to treat men with enlarged prostates are both effective, new research has shown.Ī benign enlarged prostate is not cancer and is not usually a serious threat to health. This is a plain English summary of an original research article
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