Thulium laser vapo-enucleation of the prostate is the latest addition to the arsenal of minimally invasive therapies available for the surgical treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostate hyperplasia. The potential advantages include smoother vaporisation, a clearer visual field and the option of both continuous-wave and pulsed modes, which also potentiate the haemostatic properties of this endoscopic method. Short-term results show that it yields significant improvements in both subjective and objective outcomes, with a strong safety profile. Large-scale randomised studies with a longer follow-up are warranted to determine the durability of this laser procedure.
Keywords: Benign prostate hyperplasia; HoLEP, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate; PVP, photo-selective vaporisation of the prostate; PVR, postvoid residual urine volume; Qmax, maximum urinary flow rate; QoL, quality of life; ThuVEP, thulium laser vapo-enucleation of the prostate; Thulium laser; Urinary tract symptoms.