Urotherapies provides Laser Prostate therapies to treat enlarged prostate, or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). An enlarged prostate gland is common as a man ages.
Laser Prostate Therapy Treatment Explained
Urotherapies uses GreenLight Laser Therapy solutions to treat BPH. The GreenLight Laser Therapy is a treatment that combines the effectiveness of the traditional surgical procedure known as “Trans Urethral Resection of the Prostate” (TURP) with fewer side effects. GreenLight treatment is suitable for most patients with an enlarged prostate.
BPH Formation and Symptoms
BPH is a non-cancerous (benign) enlargement of the prostate. Your prostate grew to normal size during your teenage years. Usually, the prostate grows to the size of a walnut. The prostate may begin to grow again when a man reaches middle age. The reasons for this growth are not fully known. By the age of 80, 80% of men have BPH. BPH causes symptoms in many older men.
An enlarged prostate presses on the urethra. The pressure can obstruct the flow of urine through the urethra. Obstruction of the flow of urine can cause problems, including frequent urination especially at night (nocturia), weak urine flow, sudden urge to urinate (urgency), trouble starting and stopping your urine stream (hesitation), inability to completely empty your bladder, pushing or straining to urinate, or pain or burning during urination.
What to Expect During and After Laser Prostate Therapy
Before treatment your physician may give you medication to help you relax during the procedure and to avoid infections. You will be moved to a treatment bed where you will lie on your back. You will be provided anesthesia that will allow you to sleep through the entire procedure. Depending on the treatment center, other types of anesthesia may be used, including spinal block or pudendal block.
Once you are asleep or the anesthesia block takes effect, your physician will insert a cystoscope through the urethra. The laser fiber is introduced through the cystoscope and advanced into the urethra at the location of the prostate. The physician systematically vaporizes the enlarged prostate tissue until the obstruction is removed. At the end of the procedure the physician may place a temporary catheter to let urine drain from your bladder.
Since this is an outpatient procedure, you will typically go home within a few hours after treatment. You should have someone drive you home after the procedure. If a catheter was placed in your bladder at the end of the procedure, it will typically be removed within 24 hours. However, patients with compromised bladder function or those who have required prolonged catheterization as a result of severe urinary symptoms may require a catheter for a longer period of time. Most patients experience very rapid relief of symptoms and a dramatic improvement in urine flow. This typically occurs within 24 hours of the procedure. However, medical history, health condition and other factors can influence treatment recovery.
You may experience mild discomfort such as slight burning during urination and small amounts of blood in your urine for a week or so. Also, depending on the condition of your bladder, you may experience greater frequency and urge to urinate. This will resolve over time as your bladder adjusts now that the obstruction in your urethra has been removed.
More Information About BPH, Enlarged Prostate, and Treatment Options
The National Institute of Health (NIH) provides more information about BPH and enlarged prostate symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options on their website. Patients concerned about BPH or enlarged prostate, should consult a physician who can help them determine the best course of treatment for their specific condition. Please let us know if you need help locating a physician in your area.