Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate: the year in review

Abstract

Using standard transurethral electrosurgical technology, electrovaporization has quickly become a popular procedure for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia. It offers standard transurethral loop-like resection or transurethral resection-like efficacy without significant morbidities associated with the latter procedure. By combining two electrosurgical effects, vaporization and desiccation, into one motion, electrovaporization has the potential to surpass the standard transurethral resection as a gold standard. This review examines the clinical and technical advances developed in optimizing the surgical outcome of an electrovaporative resection. In addition to a review of ongoing clinical investigations by several institutions, an analysis of factors affecting electrovaporization and the subsequent refinement of technology resulting in new generators, surgical techniques, and electrode configurations are reported.