Description

An estimated 12,500 Canadians are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year. Diagnosis and treatment involve transurethral (through the urethra) resection of tumor or tissue called the TURBT procedure. This procedure yields excellent results and minimal morbidity and mortality but has a high recurrence rate, difficulties in the pathologic interpretation of the specimen (due to cautery effect), and procedure-related complications (excessive bleeding, bladder perforation, bowel injury, and inadvertent extensive injury to urethra) that may delay treatments such as chemotherapy which would further impact oncologic outcomes. With the advancement of technology, new methods of transurethral tumor removal have emerged, such as the use of laser energy. Using laser energy, the tumour is resected in one piece, whereas the TURBT approach requires breaking the tumor into pieces. This allows for better pathology analysis that can determine treatment pathways for the patient, as well as reduces the risk of complications. The standard lasers used have been the MOSES Holmium laser and the Thulium Fiber Laser (TFL).