Meta-analysis and systematic review of intermediate-term follow-up of prostatic urethral lift for benign prostatic hyperplasia

• Published in: International urology and nephrology Vol. 52; no. 6; pp. 999 - 1008
• Main Authors: Tanneru, Karthik, Gautam, Shiva, Norez, Daniel, Kumar, Jatinder, Alam, Muhammad Umar, Koocheckpour, Shahriar, Balaji, K. C., Joseph, Costa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-06-2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hyperplasia; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Meta-analysis; Nephrology; Prostate; Prostatic Hyperplasia - surgery; Quality of life; Sexual health; Systematic review; Time Factors; Urethra - surgery; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male - methods; Urology; Urology - Review; Prostatic urethral lift; BPH; LUTS; Urolift; PUL
• ISSN: 0301-1623; 1573-2584
• DOI: 10.1007/s11255-020-02408-y

Background
Prostatic urethral lift (PUL), is a relatively new minimally invasive procedure for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).This article is a systematic review and meta-analysis of all the articles published including follow-up of at least 24 months to analyze sustainability of results.
Methods
We performed a critical review in according to the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. From a total 768 published articles that matched our search terms, 5 studies with minimum follow-up of 24 months were selected for comparison and data analyzed in terms of baseline characteristics, functional, and sexual health outcomes.
Results
Included in the analyses are five studies with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. A total of 386 patients underwent PUL and 322 patients (83.4%) are available for follow-up at 24 months. The randomized studies are grouped as group A and non-randomized studies as group B. At 24 months, the mean reduction in International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) from baseline was 9.1 in group A and 10.4 in group B. The mean improvement in peak flow rate (
Q
max
) was 3.7 mL/s in group A and 3 mL/s in group B, and quality of life (QoL) improved by 2.2 in both groups.
Conclusion
PUL is a well-tolerated, minimally invasive therapy for BPH that provides favorable and durable symptomatic, sexual health, and functional outcomes up to 24 months. Longer follow-up and randomized studies comparing to current standards are required to further confirm the long-term sustainability of PUL.