A cohort study on the preventive effect of preserving the urethral ridge in transurethral Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate on retrograde ejaculation
10.3760/cma.j.cn112330-20250331-00130
- VernacularTitle:保留尿道嵴在经尿道前列腺钬激光剜除术中对逆行射精预防效果的队列研究
- Author:
Qinglong WU
1
;
Songtao ZHAO
;
Tao WANG
;
Rongjin FANG
;
Chao LI
;
Jiqian WANG
;
Yongchao WANG
;
Yongmei CHEN
;
Weiwen LIU
;
Bin CHEN
Author Information
1. 厦门市海沧医院（厦门医学院附属海沧医院）泌尿外科，厦门 361026
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Prostatic hyperplasia;
Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate;
Urethral ridge preserving;
Retrograde ejaculation;
Erectile function
- From:
Chinese Journal of Urology
2025;46(9):676-683
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the efficacy of preserving the urethral ridge during Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate（HoLEP）in preventing postoperative retrograde ejaculation and to evaluate its impact on sexual function.Methods:This prospective cohort study enrolled patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia（BPH）who underwent HoLEP at Xiamen Haicang Hospital（Haicang Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen Medical College）from November 2022 to June 2024. Inclusion criteria were as follows：diagnosis of BPH confirmed by color Doppler ultrasound；International Prostate Symptom Score（IPSS）> 7；maximum urinary flow rate（Q max）< 15 ml/s；prostate-specific antigen（PSA）< 4 ng/ml；and an active sexual life with intact antegrade ejaculation. Exclusion criteria included neurogenic bladder，active urinary tract infection（UTI），and other relevant conditions. Patients were grouped based on the operating surgeon's comprehensive judgment during surgery，considering the degree of prostatic median lobe hyperplasia（preserved if hyperplasia was mild，not preserved if severe）. The EP-HoLEP group underwent “tunnel technique” enucleation of the middle lobe hyperplasia with preservation of the urethral ridge，while the HoLEP group underwent conventional prostate enucleation. Primary outcomes included postoperative retrograde ejaculation rate，International Index of Erectile Function（IIEF），Ejaculation Projection Score（EPS），IPSS，Quality of Life Score（QOL），Q max，post-void residual urine volume（PVR），operative time，and postoperative complications. Univariate analysis was used to screen potential influencing factors，followed by multivariate logistic regression to identify independent predictors. Results:Seventy patients with BPH were enrolled，with 35 in each group. Baseline characteristics，including age［（69.97 ± 5.14）years vs.（72.34 ± 5.08）years］，body mass index（BMI）［（22.99 ± 1.41）kg/m2 vs.（23.16 ± 1.38）kg/m2］，prostate volume［47.4（31.9，59.4）ml vs. 44.2（34.9，61.7）ml］，PSA［4.0（1.9，8.2）ng/ml vs. 3.1（2.6，5.0）ng/ml］，hemoglobin［（130.09 ± 12.92）g/L vs.（125.69 ± 17.26）g/L］，IPSS［17（10，22）vs. 17（10，27）］，QOL［5（4，5）vs. 4（4，5）］，Q max［7.5（6.3，9.1）ml/s vs. 7.0（5.9，8.9）ml/s］and PVR［65（22，167）ml vs. 60（16，150）ml］showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups（ P > 0.05）. Operative time［65（55，76）min vs. 63（55，73）min］，postoperative 2-hour hemoglobin［（124.17 ± 14.89）g/L vs.（120.11 ± 15.44）g/L］，and postoperative hospital stay［（3.94 ± 1.89）days vs.（3.66 ± 1.53）days］were also comparable between the two groups（ P > 0.05）. No significant difference was observed in the decrease in IIEF score［1（0，2）vs. 2（0，6）， P = 0.203］. EPS at 3 months［2（1，3）vs. 1（0，2）， P < 0.001］and at 6 months［2（1，2）vs. 1（0，2）， P < 0.001］postoperatively were significantly higher in the EP-HoLEP group. The incidence of postoperative UTI did not differ significantly［5.7%（2/35）vs. 2.9%（1/35）， P = 1.00］. Two cases of urinary retention occurred after catheter removal in the EP-HoLEP group，while none occurred in the HoLEP group. No blood transfusions or urethral strictures were reported in either group. The incidence of retrograde ejaculation was significantly lower in the EP-HoLEP group［28.6%（10/35）vs. 68.6%（24/35）， P <0.001］. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that urethral ridge preservation was an independent protective factor for retrograde ejaculation after HoLEP（ OR = 0.159，95% CI 0.053 ? 0.476， P = 0.001）. Conclusions:Urethral ridge preservation during HoLEP is safe and feasible，significantly reduces retrograde ejaculation，and preserves ejaculatory function，though it offers limited erectile function preservation. This approach is suitable for middle-aged，young，or younger elderly patients who prioritize ejaculatory quality，and provides clinical evidence for surgical optimization.
