Treatment for enlarged prostate
The prostate gland lies at the base of the bladder surrounding
the urethra (or water pipe). As a man grows older, the prostate
enlarges and as it does so, obstructs the urethra.
Symptoms of enlarged prostate
Patients may notice a reduction in urinary flow, a sensation of
incomplete bladder emptying and a need to pass urine more often. In
the early stages the condition can be managed with medication, but
as the prostate continues to grow surgery eventually becomes
necessary.
TURP
Traditionally a trans-urethral resection (TURP) operation has
been performed for this. In this procedure a current is passed
through a loop wire heating it up and the prostate is cut up in to
chips which are then washed out through the urethra. The operation
works very well but there is some bleeding and patients often have
to spend 2 days or more in hospital afterwards until this has
settled down.
Green Light Laser
New technologies have been developed in order to make the
operation more efficient, including the use of lasers. Some lasers,
such as the green light laser, are used to ablate part
of the prostate, when a cavity is burnt into the prostate by a
laser in order to widen the opening and allow the urine to flow
better. This technology has now been surpassed by newer
methods.
Latest technology now available at Oaks
Hospital
Holmium Laser Treatment
A more sophisticated laser is the Holmium
Laser. This acts as a very precise cutting tool and allows the
prostate to be shelled out of its capsule. The procedure is called
a Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP). Several
international trials have shown that the holmium laser procedure
removes far more tissue than with conventional prostate operations
with very little bleeding and a significantly shorter hospital
stay.
Benefits of Holmium Laser Treatment
There are many advantages to this procedure
compared to alternatives -
- Laser enulceation is suitable for prostates of all sizes and
comes into its own with the larger and more difficult prostates
that used to need removal through an open surgical operation. There
is now no upper limit to the size of prostate that can be operated
on
- Post surgery there is very little bleeding
- Most patients who have this procedure will be catheter free
within 24 hours
- Hospital stay can consequently be less than 24 hours for the
majority of patients
- No further treatment required for at least 10 years in most
cases
After the operation patients usually experience rapid relief
from their symptoms. Not all hospitals in the UK have adopted this
procedure as the state of the art equipment is expensive and
special training has to be undertaken in order to perform it.
Investment in this technology at the Oaks Hospital means the
procedure is well established here.
Contact our Hospital Services Advisers on 01206 753
245 or via the online form for
further details of urology treatments at the Oaks Hospital and
how to make an appointment.