Laserscope's GreenLight laser effectively vaporizes prostate tissue, study says

By Angela McDaniels

Seattle, Jan. 10 - Laserscope said photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) performed with the company's GreenLight P laser system yielded results similar to the more traditional transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for the treatment of obstructive benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The 101-patient study found that PVP provides intraoperative safety, instant tissue removal and immediate relief from obstructive voiding symptoms, similar to TURP, the company said.

Investigators from the University of Basel and from Cantons Spital Baden in Switzerland reported their findings in the December issue of the European Urology journal.

"Although long-term, follow-up of comparison trials are still needed to confirm the initial positive results of this study, we are convinced that PVP is becoming the new de-facto standard of care given the growing number of consistently positive reports from educational and medical centers around the world," president and chief executive officer Eric Reuter said in a company news release.

Laserscope said that PVP also has the potential to reduce health care expenses for the treatment of obstructive benign prostatic hyperplasia.

"Although capital investment for the laser generator and disposable costs for the single-use laser fiber are significant, cost savings for insurers become evident once the shorter hospital stay, lower incidence and reduced severity of post-operative complications for PVP compared to TURP are taken into consideration," lead investigator Alexander Bachmann said in the release.

San Jose, Calif.-based Laserscope designs, manufactures and sells minimally invasive medical products.

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