Objectives. The maximal effect of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) occurs 3 to 6 months after treatment. In the acute period after TUMT, little change in symptoms, quality of life (QOL), and peak urinary flow rate (Qmax) is observed versus baseline. Some men may also develop acute urinary retention secondary to thermally induced edema. Recent reports suggest that early results of TUMT may be improved with concomitant use of either a temporary intraurethral prostatic bridge-catheter (PBC) or neoadjuvant and adjuvant alpha-blocker therapy. This report compares the results of these two adjunctive modalities directly.

Methods. This nonrandomized retrospective comparison of results in 186 patients with LUTS of BPH is based on findings of three recently reported prospective clinical trials. All patients underwent targeted high-energy TUMT. Ninety-one patients received no further treatment (TUMT alone group), 54 an indwelling PBC for up to 1 month (TUMT + PBC group), and 41 neoadjuvant and adjuvant tamsulosin (0.4 mg daily) treatment (TUMT + tamsulosin group). The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), QOL score, and Qmax were determined at baseline and 2 weeks after TUMT.

Results. All three study groups experienced statistically significant improvements in mean IPSS and QOL score at 2 weeks versus baseline (P <0.0005). Nevertheless, the magnitude of improvement was greater in the TUMT + PBC group than the other two groups and greater in the TUMT + tamsulosin group than the TUMT alone group. A high proportion of the TUMT + PBC group (87.8%) attained a 50% or more IPSS improvement, compared with 4.5% of the TUMT alone group and none of the TUMT + tamsulosin group, and a similar pattern of between-group differences was noted with respect to the proportion of patients having 50% or more improvement in QOL score. The TUMT + PBC group was the only group to achieve significant Qmax improvement at 2 weeks compared with baseline. In the TUMT alone group, urinary retention 1 week or longer in duration occurred in 10 (11%) of 91 patients compared with 1 (2.4%) of 41 in the TUMT + tamsulosin group and none in the TUMT + PBC group. Early PBC removal was required in 11% of the TUMT + PBC group as a consequence of urinary retention secondary to clot formation or PBC migration.

Conclusions. Both PBC placement and neoadjuvant and adjuvant alpha-blocker treatment are effective in alleviating symptoms and improving QOL during the acute period after TUMT. PBC usage also resulted in substantial early Qmax improvement. Either of these adjunctive modalities may be appropriate to consider in the treatment of TUMT patients during the early postprocedure recovery period.