Green-light laser en bloc resection for primary non-muscle-invasive bladder tumor versus transurethral electroresection: A prospective, nonrandomized two-center trial with 36-month follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of LBO laser en bloc resection compared with transurethral electroresection (TURBT) for the treatment of primary non-muscle-invasive bladder tumors.

METHODS: From September 2010 to February 2012, a prospective, nonrandomized two-center trial was performed. A total of 158 patients (83 underwent laser resection and 75 TURBT) were included in the present study. The preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative clinical characteristics were recorded and compared in the two groups.

RESULTS: There were no differences with the preoperative characteristics between the patients in the two groups. The mean operative time was 21.46 ± 10.42 minutes for laser resection and 27.47 ± 15.30 minutes for TURBT (P = 0.004). LBO laser group was also associated with less hemoglobin decrease compared with TURBT group (0.87 ± 0.28 g/ml vs. 1.00 ± 0.33 g/ml, P = 0.009). Obturator nerve reflection was absent during laser resection, whereas was observed in nine patients during TURBT (P = 0.001). Two patients in the TURBT group suffered bladder perforation. Three patients in TURBT group and one patient in LBO laser group experienced urethral stricture. The recurrence-free survival rate did not differ significantly between two groups after 36 months follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of our trial have shown that LBO laser en bloc resection is feasible, safe, and effective alternative for the treatment of primary non-muscle-invasive bladder tumors. Besides, it can provide intact specimen for the pathologic diagnosis. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:859-865, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.