[Efficacy and Safety of Rezum® Water Vapor Therapy for Treating Urinary Retention: Analysis of 34 Cases in Japan].

Rezum® water vapor therapy is a minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that utilizes sterile water vapor injections into the prostate to achieve tissue ablation. This study evaluates the real-world efficacy and safety of Rezum® in managing catheter-dependent urinary retention in a multimorbid patient population. A prospective, single-center study was conducted involving 34 consecutive patients with catheter-dependent urinary retention treated with Rezum® between 2022 and 2024. Patient demographics and procedural characteristics were documented. Post-treatment outcomes, including adverse events, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QO), overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), post-void residual volume (PVR), and prostate volume, were analyzed. Among the 34 patients, with a mean age of 80.6 years, 33 (97%) achieved spontaneous, catheter-free voiding following the procedure. Symptomatic improvements were noted, with post-treatment mean scores of IPSS at 5.9, QOL at 1.5, and OABSS at 4.1. PVR decreased significantly from 801 ml to 45.2 ml (94% reduction), and prostate volume was reduced from 54.6 ml to 34.7 ml (36% reduction), both with statistical significance (p＜0.01). Adverse events were mild and infrequent, including gross hematuria in 9% and febrile urinary tract infections in 3%. Rezum® represents an effective and safe minimally invasive therapeutic option for catheter-dependent patients. This novel technique is particularly advantageous for individuals at heightened risk of bleeding or those deemed high-risk for anesthesia.