OBJECTIVES: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in older men, resulting from the enlargement of the transition zone around the peri-urinary tract. LUTS includes frequent urination, night urination, urinary urgency, and urinary retention. This study aims to determine the safety and effectiveness of transurethral water vapor ablation of the prostate in BPH patients with LUTS.

METHODS: A literature review was conducted to assess the effectiveness of transurethral water vapor ablation of the prostate. Guidelines were collected from the Guidelines International Network, the Korean Medical Guideline Information Center, and five clinical society websites, along with additional manual searches.

RESULTS: The review included two medical textbooks (McAninch & Lue, 2020; Partin et al., 2020) and five guidelines (Canadian Urological Association, American Urological Association, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, European Association of Urology, and Japanese Urological Association and the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine).

Textbooks and guidelines indicate that most patients undergoing this procedure had no adverse events, with mild to moderate symptoms resolving within three weeks for those affected. Minor and serious adverse events were comparable to other BPH treatments. The technique is noted for preserving sexual function and has lower rates of ejaculatory dysfunction and urinary incontinence compared to Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), indicating acceptable safety.

Effectiveness is demonstrated by symptom improvement, enhanced quality of life, and a low re-procedure rate. It is recommended for patients with BPH (30–80 cc) with LUTS.

CONCLUSIONS: The New Health Technology Assessment Committee determined Transurethral water vapor ablation of prostate in patients with BPH with a prostate volume of 30–80 cc with LUTS a safe and effective technique, and announced through the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare bulletin No. 2023-14 (25 january 2023).