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The PLASMA System for Transurethral Resection of the Prostate: A NICE Medical Technologies Guidance Update

Applied Health Economics and Health Policy volume 19, pages 665–672 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men commonly occur as a consequence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as prostate enlargement. Treatments for this can involve electrosurgical removal of a section of the prostate via transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). This can be performed using either monopolar or bipolar electrosurgery. Bipolar TURP uses saline for irrigation rather than glycine, which drastically reduces the risk of TUR syndrome complications, thus allowing for increased procedure time if needed. The PLASMA system (formally known as TURis) is a bipolar TURP electrosurgery system used to treat LUTS secondary to BPH. National guidance recommending the use of TURis in the UK NHS was issued in 2014 by NICE and we now report the updated contribution from Cedar that was included in the update of that guidance for 2021. The evidence in this review suggests that the PLASMA system could be beneficial to patients in relation to hospitalisation and catheterisation time compared with monopolar TURP (mTURP). However, it appears to be comparable to mTURP for urological outcomes and worse for post-operative haematology outcomes such as decline in sodium and haemoglobin levels. Adverse events, however, occurred much less with PLASMA use.

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Acknowledgements

Acknowledgments to Helen Morgan (SURE, Cardiff University) and Simone Willis (SURE, Cardiff University) for conducting the literature searches for this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cedar, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK

    Laura Knight & Rhys Morris

  2. Cedar, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Susan Peirce

Authors
  1. Laura Knight
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  2. Susan Peirce
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  3. Rhys Morris
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura Knight.

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Funding

Cedar was funded by the NICE Medical Technologies Evaluation Programme for their work.

Conflicts of interest

LK and RM are NHS employees. SP is a Cardiff University employee and has no conflicts of interest. This summary of the Medical Technologies Guidance was produced following the publication of the final guidance report.

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Author contributions

LK, SP and RM contributed to the preparation of the manuscript. RM reviewed the full article, and can act as a guarantor for the overall content. This summary has not been externally reviewed by Applied Health Economics and Health Policy. However, it has been reviewed externally by NICE.

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Knight, L., Peirce, S. & Morris, R. The PLASMA System for Transurethral Resection of the Prostate: A NICE Medical Technologies Guidance Update. Appl Health Econ Health Policy 19, 665–672 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40258-021-00651-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40258-021-00651-7