Comparison Between Two Different En Bloc Thulium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate: Does Technique Influence Complications and Outcomes?

Objective: To evaluate whether 2 similar en bloc thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) techniques can influence surgical complications and outcomes.

Material: Within 2 institutional databases 164 men who underwent 2 different en bloc ThuLEP techniques were compared using propensity scores. With the first technique prostatic lobes were all enucleated en bloc, whereas, with the second the median lobe was enucleated first and the lateral lobes were enucleated en bloc thereafter.

Evaluation of the learning curve for thulium laser enucleation of the prostate with the aid of a simulator tool but without tutoring: comparison of two surgeons with different levels of endoscopic experience.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the learning curve for thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) for two surgeons with different levels of urological endoscopic experience.

Methods: From June 2012 to August 2013, ThuLEP was performed on 100 patients in our institution. We present the results of a prospective evaluation during which we analyzed data related to the learning curves for two surgeons of different levels of experience.