LOL!!!! The fact certainly APPEARS to be that PVP is a much better
procedure. I think you've read the litany of reasons stated here on our
newsgroup:  far less bleeding; far less time (possibly none) on a catheter,
quicker recovery in general.

If I need surgery I would certainly opt for PVP. All that being said, I
still maintain that experience with the procedure is very important. I would
recommend you look around and check on the experience of other local PVP
docs, if there are any. 17 doesn't seem too bad, however!

Mel

If you need to ask this question of unknown contributers to this
usenet group then you have a big, big problem  :-)

However, for what it is worth, the laser TURP is slightly less
traumatic than the traditional TURP.  
But the traditional Turp is slightly mere effective than the laser
TURP.

Personally, if I were in poor general health and sensitive to the
financial cost then I would choose a laser TURP.

If I were in reasonable health and not bothered by the cost then I
would choose the traditional TURP.

BUT my overall decision making would be very much guided by my
urologist - not by 'strangers'     :-)

Either way - be aware that all TURP procedures are pretty low- level .
Thank your lucky stars that you have choices :-)

TURP might be a walk in the park for your uro but that does not mean its
without risk or longer recovery time

I refused point blank to have a TURP from a uro who claimed he was gods gift
to urology especially once i found out all about the op
Instead I had PVP and the uro was a decent kind human being as well as being
a doctor i sure do not regret it

Instead of 4 days in hospital being hooked up to a bag and a catheter i was
in and out of hospital in 4 hours , no catheter and sitting in the garden
the next day

The mechanical skills in doing both are about the same.

I have heard expert witnesses who saw a TURP-experienced uro do his first
PVP and these PVP-experienced witnessess were amazed that he did it like a pro.

TURP uses a cutting wire which does not cauterize. Thus the chance
of bleeding to death is 1%. The wire can cut any tissue or muscle
and is not selective: hence the ~ 2% chance of incontinence
or impotence in a TURP.

It uses a special irrigating solution which is associated with
"TURP syndrome" if too much is absorbed by body tissue. You can awaken
stoned or have a heart attack a couple of weeks down the line.

Check out "TURP syndrome" on med databases.

PVP does the same thing as TURP (cuts a channel) but with a tool
that is more a century newer and better than a hot wire.

Ask this URO if progress is not to be expected in a century?

PVP vaporizes and is tuned to a frequency which selectively
vaporizes prostate tissue. That's not to say it can't do damage
if handled improperly -- but I suspect the chances are less.

On the basis of all I've read here, I'd go for a PVP
by an experienced URO, someone over 40. One who's done
1000s of TURPs and a couple of dozen PVPs.

Think of this: the URO doing the PVP has previously done
many TURPs, and has adopted PVP, and chosen PVP over TURP.

The URO who has only done TURPs has a closed mind.

My expert witnesses have told me that experienced UROs
who see a PVP being performed (via video monitors)
immediately say the equivalent of "this is the right way a
channel should be cut in the prostate." Immediate
deterministic results (like a TURP, and unlike a TUNA or TUMP for example: both
of which "expect" tissue shrinkage/ablation) but much less chance of
cutting unwanted tissue and much less scarring.

Declaration: I've had a TUNA (which worked and held for two years)
and a holmium laser TURP, which worked but entailed months of unpleasantness.
(This was pre-PVP days.)

And I have scar tissue which may in the future need to go -- by PVP
only. No matter where I have to go to get a PVP.

I also have a few shares of Laserscope because I sincerely believe
it is going to completly replace the TURP within the next few years.

LRM

Laserscope allows a doctor's name on their site after 10 procedures.
Apparently they feel that is the number required to master the procedure.
You should ask for references from previous recipients (he probably can't
give you their names but he could give them yours with your permission.)

I'm a potential PVP candidate as well.

I'm curious as to what happens to the tube that normally carrys the urine.
Is it vaporized as well, or does the laser only work on the prostate tissue?  

If yes, does it grow back afterwards?  

If not, what prevents the acidic urine from damaging the remaining tissue of
the channel?

I would rather have another PVP than another prostate biopsy.  The PVP
was much less uncomfortable and I bled less afterward.  I doubt you
will find patients who have had a TURP make the same statement.

Bear in mind that one major disadvantage of laser TURPs is that they
provide no tissue for biopsy.  

Take also into account the fact that a large proportion of biopsies
which are performed on tissue derived from traditional TURPs show the
presence of cancer.

Those choosing laser surgery without backing it up with good biopsy
(which cannot be done with a laser) are living in a fool's paradise.