30-50% of men over 50 suffer from LUTS due to BPH, with higher rates in those over 80 (13,14). TURP, the gold standard for BPH, is linked to frequent adverse events (15). Laser and plasma vaporization techniques have arisen as minimally invasive alternatives with similar outcomes and complication rates (16) Since the FDA approval of the Rezūm® system in 2015, WVTT provides targeted water vapor therapy to treat enlarged prostate tissue with precision (6). WVTT demands little anesthesia, effectively reduces LUTS, and safeguards sexual function (17).
Our study assessed Rezūm® therapy's efficacy in reducing urinary symptoms according to IPSS and enhancing quality of life, while also examining the MCIDs to determine patient and clinical factors that affect the full benefits of WVTT. We emphasized MCIDs to better interpret PROMs and used a composite treatment durability endpoint—including retreatment rates and IPSS change—to evaluate the long-term advantages of WVTT (2) .
WVTT has proven to significantly alleviate symptoms and enhance urinary flow (4,18). It emerges as a new standard in BPH treatment for those seeking non-pharmacological or less invasive options. Balancing efficacy with quality of life, WVTT aligns with current treatment priorities, particularly with its promising outcomes and sustained patient satisfaction, reducing the likelihood of additional interventions (2).
Our findings affirm that WVTT is an effective long-term BPH management strategy, aligning with the existing evidence(13). We observed a mean improvement of 58.6% in the IPSS scores, indicating a substantial reduction in the severity of LUTS. This improvement reflects a significant patient-perceived amelioration in symptoms. Concurrently, an average increase of 5.2 mL/s in Qmax was noted, indicative of micturition enhancement. These findings echo the results of Miller et al., noting consistent improvements in IPSS and Qmax, and a low surgical retreatment rate of 7.0% at four years compared to our reintervention rate of 6.3% at a median follow-up of 29.1 months (9,19). Our research also aligns with McVary & Roehrborn, who reported a 160% improvement in IPSS compared to control subjects over three years (19). Additionally, Alegorides et al. observed a 61.5% reduction in IPSS after one year, with patients liberated from bladder catheterization without serious adverse effects (20). Ghahhari et al. corroborate these observations, showing significant and consistent enhancements in Qmax and IPSS at 18-month intervals (21). Underpinning the long-term benefits of WVTT, McVary et al. demonstrated sustained LUTS improvement over five years, underscoring the procedure's longevity and safety (19). Collectively, this body of work substantiates WVTT's role as a minimally invasive, effective, and safe intervention for LUTS due to BPH, though the long-term efficacy beyond 10 years remains to be established.
Our MCID analysis for IPSS and QoL, sheds light on PROMs interpretability and clinical significance alignment. The MCID benchmarks set in this study are reflective of meaningful patient-perceived improvements. Hossack and Woo demonstrated that improvements in IPSS and QoL scores post-photoselective vaporization of the prostate correlated significantly with patient satisfaction, underscoring the importance of MCID in evaluating patient outcomes (22). Similarly, Nordanstig et al. assessed the MCID for Vascular Quality of Life Questionnaire-6 in patients undergoing peripheral artery disease revascularization, providing a framework for the interpretation of QoL improvements in a different patient population (11). Our findings of only 13.6% and 7.2% of patients not reaching the MCID for IPSS and QoL respectively, suggest a significant proportion of patients perceive a clinically meaningful benefit from WVTT. Our results are consistent with the burgeoning consensus that PROMs are critical for post-operative evaluation, ensuring that the treatment effects are meaningful to the patients themselves. The use of a composite treatment durability metric, further emphasizes the significance of aligning clinical outcomes with patient-valued changes (13).
We analyzed a range of clinical and operative characteristics, alongside outcome measures, to identify factors associated with a reduced probability of surpassing the MCID threshold for LUTS, as measured by the IPSS. Our findings indicated that a larger median lobe, a higher number of treatments to the median lobe (≥2 injections), and an elevated preoperative IPSS score (≥7) were all predictive factors associated with a higher probability of not achieving MCID. The cutoff of 7 on the IPSS scale helps identify patients who, although presenting with mild symptoms, may still experience a significant impact on their quality of life and may require clinical intervention. Studies have shown that even mild symptoms can lead to considerable discomfort and management challenges for patients (23,24). Martinez et al., highlighted the technical challenges and impact on urinary function that an enlarged median lobe can present during prostatectomy which may be analogous to the challenges a median lobe poses in achieving full efficacy of treatment with WVTT (25). Moreover, the requirement for multiple treatments often indicates more extensive BPH, which can complicate the therapeutic process. Eure et al. suggest that while challenging anatomical features, such as obstructive median lobes, can be effectively managed, a higher number of necessary treatments reflects greater tissue volume and complexity (12). This increased complexity can adversely affect the likelihood of achieving MCIDs due to the higher procedural burden and potential for residual symptomatic tissue. This is in keeping with the composite treatment durability metric, which considers not only symptom relief but also the avoidance of additional medical or surgical interventions (12). Our observation that an elevated preoperative IPSS score is associated with a lesser likelihood of achieving MCID resonates with findings from Bodokh et al., where initial symptom severity could impact the functional results (26). These findings suggest that while the median lobe's characteristics crucially influence treatment outcomes, the severity of LUTS and the number of interventions are equally significant in determining the efficacy of treatment and, hence, should be integral to preoperative assessments and patient counseling.
Our study, while robust in its prospective design and comprehensive outcome measures, is not without limitations. The single-arm nature of the study precludes direct comparison with alternative treatments and introduces the potential for selection bias, thereby affecting the interpretation of the results. Additionally, relying on PROMs, despite their validity, can introduce a degree of subjectivity in measuring and interpreting the MCIDs, especially considering the subjective nature of improvements perceived differently among individuals. However, these limitations are balanced by the study’s strengths, including the systematic prospective data collection, well-defined inclusion criteria, and the utilization of MCIDs to contextualize the clinical relevance of treatment effects.
Moving forward, there is a need for long-term studies extending beyond the 36-month period to understand the enduring effectiveness of WVTT. Comparative studies with other treatment modalities, such as traditional surgical methods or alternative minimally invasive options, could provide a more nuanced understanding of WVTT's relative efficacy. Larger multi-center trials could enhance the generalizability of our findings and confirm the benefits observed in different patient demographics, including varying prostate sizes and configurations. Future research should also explore WVTT's impact on sexual function and urinary continence in the long term, which are critical considerations for patient quality of life.