Two-micron (thulium) laser resection of the prostate-tangerine technique: a new method for BPH treatment

Two-micron (thulium) laser resection of the prostate-tangerine technique (TmLRP-TT) is a transurethral procedure that uses a thulium laser fiber to dissect whole prostatic lobes off the surgical capsule, similar to peeling a tangerine. We recently reported the primary results. Here we introduce this procedure in detail. A 70-W, 2-mu m (thulium) laser was used in continuous-wave mode. We joined the incision by making a transverse cut from the level of the verumontanum to the bladder neck, making the resection sufficiently deep to reach the surgical capsule, and resected the prostate into small pieces, just like peeling a tangerine. As we resected the prostate, the pieces were vaporized, sufficiently small to be evacuated through the resectoscope sheath, and the use of the mechanical tissue morcellator was not required. The excellent hemostasis of the thulium laser ensured the safety of TmLRP-TT. No patient required blood transfusion. Saline irrigation was used intraoperatively, and no case of transurethral resection syndrome was observed. The bladder outlet obstruction had clearly resolved after catheter removal in all cases. We designed the tangerine technique and proved it to be the most suitable procedure for the use of thulium laser in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This procedure, which takes less operative time than standard techniques, is safe and combines efficient cutting and rapid organic vaporization, thereby showing the great superiority of the thulium fiber laser in the treatment of BPH. It has been proven to be as safe and efficient as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) during the 1-year follow-up.