Authors: Adrian Gaspar, Sandra Maestri, Joaquin Silva, Hugo Brandi, Daniel Luque, Neza Koron, and Zdenko Vizintin
Published in: Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2018
1. ASSESSING THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF INTRAURETHRAL ER:YAG TREATMENT
There are several treatment methods available for the management of VVA symptoms of GSM, whereas urinary tract dysfunction often remains overlooked and undertreated. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the safety and efficacy of intraurethral Er:YAG laser treatment of urinary symptoms of GSM.
2. TWO ER:YAG SMOOTH™ MODE TREATMENTS
29 female patients, aged between 56 and 77 years, with diagnosed GSM, having less than 5% of vaginal superficial cells in the cytology, vaginal pH higher than 5, with urinary symptoms of GSM (dysuria, frequency, urgency) and impaired continence due to urethral atrophy, received two sessions of the intraurethral non-ablative Erbium SMOOTH™ mode laser therapy, with a 3-week interval in-between the sessions. The therapeutic efficacy was determined using ICIQ-SF, the 1-hour pad test and VAS scores. Follow ups (FU) were at 3 and 6 months.
3. ALL URINARY SYMPTOMS OF GSM IMPROVED
The intraurethral laser procedure performed in this study successfully reduced the symptoms of dysuria, urgency, and frequency in the treated patients. A statistically significant long-term effect was observed, and the positive effects appear to last up to 6 months following laser treatment.
4. AN EFFICIENT, SAFE AND RELIABLE TREATMENT ALTERNATIVE
Non-ablative Erbium SMOOTH™ mode therapy proves to be a valid and reliable alternative to traditional treatment options, as its positive effects last up to 6 months, and based on the modality, both VVA and urinary symptoms can be addressed. Most importantly, Erbium SMOOTH™ laser treatment can be used in patient populations for which other treatment methods are not recommended (e.g. breast cancer survivors).
Average Improvement Rates (%) from Baseline Values
Results are presented as mean (SD)
