To compare the alternative energy sources of the holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser and bipolar plasmakinetic energy for endoscopic enucleation.

A prospective, randomized controlled trial was undertaken, with 20 patients assigned to each group. The preoperative and postoperative measures included transrectal ultrasound-assessed prostate volume, postvoid residual urine volume, and urodynamic evaluation findings. The intraoperative measures included procedure length, energy use, and specimen weight. All adverse events were recorded at each postoperative visit in a 1, 3, 6, and 12-month protocol.

No differences were found in the preoperative characteristics between the two groups. The significant differences favoring holmium laser enucleation of the prostate compared with plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate were seen in the operative time (43.6 versus 60.5 minutes), recovery room time (47.1 versus 65.6 minutes), and bladder irrigation requirement (5% versus 35%). The outcomes after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate and plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate were in all other respects similar by the postoperative outcome measures assessed.

Plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate is a safe and technically feasible procedure for the enucleation of prostatic adenomata. Plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate is limited by the longer operative and recovery room times, as well as a more pronounced postoperative irrigation requirement because of reduced visibility and a greater propensity for bleeding. The transfusion rates and catheterization and hospitalization times were similar. The optimal energy source for enucleation should still be considered the holmium laser, but bipolar energy can be considered by users already experienced with holmium laser enucleation of the prostate.