The name of the treatment contains in a single word a connection with urologic application (“Soracte” is the name of an Italian mountain (also named in the incipit of an Horace Poem) where there was a monastery in which the monk Nonnoso, canonized, is considered the protector of people with kidney disease) and “Lite”, which on one hand refers to the lightweight and micro-invasiveness of the treatment, and on the other, the therapeutic source (Light, therefore Laser).

The name SoracteLite allows for differentiating the procedure with ECHOLASER (micro-invasiveness and multi-fibre approach in a single system) from the other thermal ablation techniques

SoracteLite treatment consists of the percutaneous insertion of optical fibres (one or two fibres per lobe depending on the basal volume of the prostatic gland) via transperineal access, and the delivery of laser energy for several minutes which causes the heating of the tissues until they are destroyed, followed by a progressive reduction in the volume of the prostatic lobe (a reduction of at least 40% compared to the basal volume at the one-year follow-up) and subsequent disappearance of the symptoms. The planning of the treatment, the insertion of the needles and the monitoring are all carried out under ultrasound guidance. In order to facilitate the insertion manoeuvre, the system has a dedicated multi-applicator Guiding System for transrectal ultrasound probe with relative Biopsy Software that displays the guidelines on the screen.

SoracteLite gives rise to the disappearance, or in any case the reduction, of the local symptoms due to the compression exerted by the enlarged prostate lobes to the initial urethral tract and the lower part of the bladder, thus ensuring a substantial recovery of patient’s quality of life.

One or two fibers are inserted in each prostatic lobe through extremely fine needles (21 G < 0.8 mm) under US guidance, in order to have a real-time feedback of the treatment. Echolaser is a multi-source system that allow to use from one to four laser sources simultaneously, giving the operator the possibility to perform different coagulation areas, in relation to the prostate basal volume (even for prostates > 100 gr)

One of the main differences of SoracteLite treatment with respect to other mini-invasive techniques is that there is no direct tissue removal. The coagulation of tissue is performed within the prostate lobe, than the reduction process of the lobe occurs due to transformation and natural body reabsorption of the treated tissue. This leads to a reduction in pressure of the prostatic urethra which relieves the patient symptoms. The maximum effect is reached a few weeks after the treatment.

The laser energy delivered through the optical fibers give rise to a coagulation zone with highly predictable volume thanks to the localised effect of the laser source, thus allowing the operator to treat only the desired portion of tissue, preserving the structures situated near the prostate lobes, such as the urethral channel and the bladder

The use of extremely fine needles (21 G) and the transperineal approach, lead to several advantages such as:

• No risk of bleeding
• No risk of infections (no removal of tissue and no interactions with urinary structures)
• No risk of sexual complications
• No complications to the urethra

Moreover, in contrast to the more common transurethral approach, sonographic-controlled, perineal interstitial laser therapy keeps the operator constantly informed (transrectal ultrasound) about the exact position, i.e. the actual depth of the laser fiber tip. The transurethral approach cannot supply this detailed information and therefore cannot offer this distinct advantage

The operator performs only local anaesthesia in the periprostatic plexus and perineal skin, leaving the patient conscious and able to directly interact with the physician during the procedure, increasing the safety and ensuring the correct performance of the treatment. Moreover this feature allow to treat all the patients that cannot undergo general or spinal anaesthesia

SoracteLite treatment allows to treat prostates with high basal volumes (even > 100 ml), thanks to the multi-fiber approach and to a special technique called pull-back, in which the operator can perform more than a single illumination in a single treatment, pulling back the needles and fibers for about 1 cm after each deposition of energy. Using that particular technique the physician can increase the coagulation volume within the prostate lobe. Hereafter are reported the mean prostate volumes that can be treated with the different techniques:

• TUIP (transurethral incision < 30 gr )
• TURP ( transurethral resection < 80‐100 gr )
• LASER (transurethral 80‐100 gr ) LASER (SoracteLite, transperineal > 30 gr)
• OPEN ( prostatectomy 80‐100g)

The treatment duration varies in relation to the prostate basal volume, from a minimum of 10 minutes to a maximum of 30 minutes for prostates with basal volumes > 100 ml. Rapid treatment times are also allowed thanks to the excellent conversion of the laser energy into thermal energy, that produces the coagulation area.

The patient is dismissed and can return to his normal activities the day after the treatment. During the period following the procedure the patient will have to undergo ultrasounds follow-up exams to evaluate the reduction of the volume of the prostate lobes

• Retrograde ejaculation
• Dysuria (several weeks after the procedure)
• Transient urinary incontinence
• Infections of the urinary tract
• Urethral stenoses
• Irritating urinary symptoms (urination might be painful, a sense of urgency or frequent need to urinate from 6 to 8 weeks after treatment)”