Laser Photoselective Vaporization

Overview

Laser PVP prostate surgery

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Mayo Clinic pioneered the development, research and adoption of laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP). PVP is a laser ablation (tissue irradiation) technique for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Mayo Clinic helped develop an advanced laser vaporization technique in 1997 by adapting a potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser system for prostate surgery. Mayo surgeons are extremely proficient in laser PVP, performing up to 300 procedures annually with excellent results. Mayo Laser PVP has gained worldwide recognition since it was introduced by Mayo Clinic, and has become a widely-accepted, easy-to-perform surgical treatment for obstructive BPH. The technique is also occasionally called laser photovaporization of the prostate.

Mayo Clinic surgeons perform a variety of laser-based ablation and resection surgeries, reflecting each surgeon's comfort and skill level performing a specific laser technique. One such technique, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), is a complex but highly effective BPH treatment that preserves removed tissue so it can be further analyzed for possible cancer and other conditions. While HoLEP is an emerging BPH treatment, many laser ablation alternatives, including PVP, continue to be predominantly practiced within thousands of medical institutions worldwide. Mayo Clinic continues to refine a range of laser procedures while contributing to advances in laser technology and equipment.

Read more about laser PVP at Mayo Clinic.

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