Is it true that HoLAP has a short learning curve?
No. HoLAP is very easy to learn. You can go into the OR after watching this webinar. Holmium ablation must have been confused with holmium enucleation, which does have a significant learning curve. Q: My first few HoLAP cases were relatively bloodless. But recently a patient had an indwelling catheter for several weeks prior to surgery. I saw more blood during the procedure. Was that due to catheter irritation? A: Yes, there can be more bleeding with catheterized patients. Patients in urinary retention and a catheter experience a tremendous increase in prostate vascularity. What you describe is commonly seen with patients treated with electrosurgery. It’s less common to see with holmium because most of the bleeding is at the mucosa level. One of my tricks is to put those patients on a drug called Avodart, a five alpha reductase inhibitor. I typically have the patient use it for a week or two before surgery if they’ve had retention because it seems to reduce the degree of bleeding. Anot
