Greenlight Laser Vaporisation
Show video transcript
The second type of laser treatment that I do and offer is greenlight vaporisation of the prostate.
This is very good for small prostates, and offers excellent haemostatic capabilities1, 2.
The laser fires from the side, we put the resectoscope in, and it vaporises the tissue.
At the end, you have a usually clear channel, and patients can void and pass urine through this.
Although some studies have shown good outcomes2, there is a concern that the re-operation rate might be quite high with the greenlight vaporisation technique4, and I use it selectively in patients with smaller prostates, or patients who are on anti-coagulation therapies.
So it’s another treatment that I use, and I tailor the treatment according to the patient.
Greenlight Laser Vaporisation
How Greenlight vaporisation works
Greenlight vaporisation is one of the laser treatments offered at Urology NSW for an enlarged prostate. A resectoscope is passed along the urethra and a side-firing laser vaporises obstructing prostate tissue. The result is a clear channel through the prostate, so patients can void and pass urine more easily.
Strengths
Greenlight vaporisation is well suited to smaller prostates and offers excellent haemostatic (bleeding control) properties1, 2, which is why it is a useful option for patients who are taking anti-coagulation medication.
Limitations and patient selection
Some studies have reported good outcomes with Greenlight2, but the re-operation rate can be higher than with some other BPH procedures4. For that reason Dr Kooner uses Greenlight selectively - generally for patients with smaller prostates or those on anti-coagulants - and tailors the treatment choice to the individual patient.
Greenlight Laser Patient Information Brochures
References
- Daniele Castellani, Giacomo Maria Pirola, Emanuele Rubilotta - GreenLight Laser Photovaporization versus Transurethral Resection of the Prostate: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - Res Rep Urol. 2021; 13: 263–271. doi: 10.2147/RRU.S277482
- Alper Eken and Bülent Soyupak - Safety and efficacy of photoselective vaporization of the prostate using the 180-W GreenLight XPS laser system in patients taking oral anticoagulants - https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060517747489
- Davide Campobasso, Simone Morselli, Francesco Greco - Efficacy and safety profile of GreenLight laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate in ≥ 75 years old patients: results from the Italian GreenLight Laser Study Group - Aging Clin Exp Res. 2023 Apr;35(4):877-885. doi: 10.1007/s40520-023-02351-9. Epub 2023 Feb 10.
- Özveren, B., Karşıyakalı, N., & Türkeri, L. (2023). Surgical reintervention requirements following GreenLight PVP: A single-center experience using three different laser device models. Arab Journal of Urology, 22(1), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/2090598X.2023.2222262