One‐year outcomes after prostate artery embolization versus laser enucleation: A network meta‐analysis

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough holmium laser enucleation (HoLEP) is considered a size‐independent procedure for treatment of an enlarged prostate, prostate artery embolization (PAE) is emerging as an alternative modality to treat moderate and large benign prostatic hyperplasia. This study aims to compare the early post‐operative and short‐term efficacy of PAE and HoLEP.MethodsPubMed, Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases were searched. Network meta‐analysis was performed following PRISMA‐N‐guidelines. Post‐operative parameters analysed include international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), post‐void residual urine (PVR), maximal uroflow rate (Qmax) and serious adverse events (SAE). Random effects model calculated weighted mean differences (WMD). If 95%CI crossed the line of no effect (WMD = 0), evidence indicated no statistically significant difference between treatments compared.ResultsQualitative and quantitative syntheses included 20 and 18 studies with 1991 and 1606 patients, respectively. At 3 months, there was no statistically significant difference between PAE and HoLEP in IPSS score improvement [WMD: −2.21: 95%CI: (−10.20, 5.78), favouring PAE], QoL score improvement [WMD: −0.22:95%CI: (−1.75, 1.32), favouring PAE] and PVR improvement [WMD: 26.97: 95%CI: (−59.53, 113.48), favouring HoLEP]. However, PAE was found inferior to HoLEP for Qmax improvement [WMD: 8.47, 95%CI: (2.89, 14.05), favouring HoLEP]. At 1‐year follow‐up, there was no statistically significant was found between PAE and HoLEP for IPSS score improvement [WMD:6.03, 95%CI: (−1.30, 13.35)], QoL score improvement [WMD: 0.03, 95%CI: (−1.19, 1.25)], PVR improvement [WMD:4.11, 95%CI: (−32.31, 40.53)] and Qmax improvement [WMD:2.60, 95%CI: (−2.20, 7.41)] with all differences favouring HoLEP. PAE was superior to HoLEP for SAE [PAE vs. HoLEP‐OR: 0.68, 95%CI: (0.25, 1.37)].ConclusionHoLEP was superior to PAE at 3 months for Qmax improvement. There was no significant difference in IPSS, QoL, PVR and Qmax improvement at 1 year between PAE and HoLEP. PAE was also associated with lesser SAE compared to HoLEP. Studies on the long‐term outcome of PAE are needed to establish the durability of early outcomes after PAE.

A systematic review and network meta‐analysis comparing Rezūm with transurethral needle ablation and microwave thermotherapy for the management of enlarged prostate

“…Categorical variables such as SAE and RTR were compared as risk ratios. An arm‐based NMA was performed to compare Rezūm with TUNA and TUMT, an approach used extensively in the literature using the RStudio package ‘pcnetmeta’ 18 , 19 , 20 . ‘Netmeta’ and ‘meta’ packages were used to evaluate heterogeneity and publication bias as ‘pcnetmeta’ does not provide these functions.…”

“…Similarly, there were no statistically significant differences between Rez um and TUMT (À11. 20 The GRADE rating for the comparison can be seen in Table 2.…”