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A standard protocol for the evaluation of laser treatment of the prostate
Author(s) -
Carter A.C.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-410x.1996.23812.x
Subject(s) - protocol (science) , prostate , medicine , urology , computer science , medical physics , pathology , alternative medicine , cancer
Objectives To present a standardized protocol, suitable for general use, for the evaluation of laser treatment of the prostate. Methods Many new operative treatments which are available to treat symptomatic prostatic enlargement are being accepted and offered to patients after scanty clinical evaluation, e.g. interventions using lasers. A consistent and standard protocol was developed, comprising data‐recording sheets for patients' admission details, pre‐operative assessments, operative details of laser ablation, post‐operative in‐patient progress and re‐attendance, and subsequent out‐patient follow‐up. Results The protocol was tested by the members of BLUES and fulfilled their requirement for easy use in any department of Urology. It provides a simple way of accurately recording relevant data within a structured format with the additional advantage of permitting results to be expressed uniformly. Conclusion The adoption of this protocol will allow valid comparisons of core data between studies assessing different procedures. The flexibility of the protocol enables it to be used, with minor modification, for the evaluation of any operative intervention aimed at relieving prostatic symptoms.