TVP (Transurethral Electrovaporization of Prostate)

Abstract

In the last 10 years or so, many equipments for the treatment of BPH have been produced and supplied. Thermotherapy by ultrasound or microwave, cauterization by laser, and urethral stent are the ones known to us. If the TUR is acknowledged to be the fundamental treatment method of BPH today, then the question is why are these equipments still being developed? This may he due to some of the problems the TUR method embodies such as relative difficulty in operation procedures, excessive bleeding during operation, complication such as bladder perforation, longer periods of post-op urethral cathetcrization, and long periods of in-hospital days. But speaking of effectiveness, the TUR is unsurpassed. Moreover, some equipments are dismissed as soon as they are supplied. Recently, a method of removing hypertrophied tissue without the use of any new equipment has been developed. In this method, the 'loop electrode' of the resectoscope is replaced with a specially designed 'roller electrode' which replaces the concept of 'resection' with 'electrovaporization'. This method has advantage of resolving to a certain extent, some of the problems of the TUR method, and at the same time it applies an easier technique. We would like to show operation method and problems in a video-tape.