Focus of the Report: This health technology assessment focuses on prostatic urethral lift (PUL) with the UroLift System for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Technology Description: The UroLift System is a minimally invasive prostatic urethral lift system that provides anterolateral mechanical traction of the lateral lobes of the prostate, opening the urethral lumen and reducing urinary obstruction.
Controversy: Initial treatment for LUTS resulting from BPH includes pharmacologic therapy designed to relieve and limit the progression of symptoms; however, this often provides only modest relief and > 30% of patients require surgical intervention. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), the current standard surgical treatment for BPH, requires general or spinal anesthesia and inpatient hospitalization. TURP is associated with complications, including sexual dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, bladder neck contractures, urethral stricture, and septic shock.
Key Questions:
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Is PUL with the UroLift System effective for reducing LUTS associated with BPH?
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How does PUL with the UroLift System compare with clinical alternatives for BPH (e.g., TURP)?
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Is PUL with the UroLift System safe for treatment of BPH?
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Have definitive patient selection criteria been identified for PUL with the UroLift System to treat BPH?
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