Last Updated on March 10, 2024 by admin
Minimally invasive surgeries are performed with laparoscopes. Sometimes, the surgeries are even performed in outpatient centres, and the recovery is much quicker. Various options for minimally invasive surgeries are available for enlarged prostate treatment. The decision for choosing the surgery depends on the size of the prostate and the personal preferences and overall health of the patient.
Types of Minimally Invasive Surgeries for Enlarged Prostate Treatment
Following are the types of minimally invasive procedures performed for enlarged prostate treatment:
- Convective Water Vapour (steam) Ablation (Rezum)
- Prostatic Urethral Lift (PUL)
- Catheterization
- Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy (TUMT)
- Transurethral Water Vapour Thermal Therapy
Benefits and risks of Minimally Invasive Surgeries for Prostate Enlargement
The most significant benefit of minimally invasive surgeries for enlarged prostate treatment is symptom relief. Some men face fewer problems controlling their urinary urges after undergoing one of these surgeries. Apart from that, these procedures ensure a quicker recovery with minimal blood loss. The risk associated with such approaches is that they increase the risk of requiring another surgery.
Side effects of Minimally Invasive Surgeries for Prostate Enlargement
Following are the side effects associated with minimally invasive surgeries for enlarged prostate treatment:
- Blood in the urine
- Urinary tract infection
- Needing to urinate more often
- Sudden urges to urinate
- Burning with urination
- Retrograde ejaculation
Prostatic Urethral Lift (PUL)
In this procedure, a needle is used to introduce tiny implants into the prostate. With the help of these implants, the enlarged prostate is lifted so that it no longer obstructs the urethra. Prostatic Urethral Lift may be performed either with general or local anaesthesia.
Benefits, Risks and Side Effects of PUL
Prostatic Urethral Lift employs no heat or cutting to remove or destroy the prostatic tissue. The whole procedure takes less than an hour, and symptom improvement is usually seen within about two weeks. However, improvement in urinary flow and symptom reduction may be lesser than transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
Some men may experience a burning sensation when urinating or a strong urge to urinate. But these side effects usually subside within 2-4 weeks. Therefore, the side effects after Prostatic Urethral Lift are lesser than those with other minimally invasive surgeries.
Convective Water Vapour (Steam) Ablation
The procedure employs stored thermal energy from steam to damage the excess prostate tissue. The sterile water is heated inside a handheld device and turned into steam. After that, a specific dose of thermal energy from the steam is introduced into the prostate with the help of a small needle. The thermal energy that is released causes rapid cell death. Then the body’s natural healing response breaks down and removes the dead tissues, resulting in the prostate’s shrinkage.
Benefits, Risks, and Side Effects of CWVA
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia. A catheter may be kept in place for a few days. The frequent urge to urinate usually subsides within three weeks. Currently, it is not known whether the treatment works long-term.
Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy (TUMT)
This procedure employs microwaves to damage the prostatic tissue. A catheter is threaded into the prostate through the urethra, and microwaves are sent through the antennae to the portions of the prostate that need to be destroyed. The excess prostate tissue is destroyed due to heat, and a cooling system is used to protect the urinary tract from damage due to the high heat given during the procedure.
Benefits, Risks, and Side Effects of TUMT
This procedure does not require anaesthesia. The skin is numbed with the help of a pain pill. The whole process takes about an hour, and bladder obstruction is successfully relieved. Minimal fluid absorption and blood loss are involved in the procedure, and you might be allowed to go home the same day.
With TUMT, there is a lower risk of side effects like urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, and urethral scarring. However, approximately 25% of men may have symptoms like an intense urge to urinate and frequent urination.
Catheterization
This is a temporary method to treat incomplete bladder evacuation. A thin, hollow tube is passed through the urethra into the bladder to allow urine drainage.
Benefits, Risks, and Side Effects of Catheterization
For temporary relief of symptoms of an enlarged prostate, catheters may be inserted. The most significant risk of a catheter is an infection, as bacteria can stick to its surface. Apart from that, chronic use of the catheter can increase bladder cancer risk and damage the tissue of the penis.
Conclusion
Many minimally invasive procedures are available to cure or relieve the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. We hope this blog acquainted you with all the information you wanted to know about them. Then, depending on your particular condition, eminent doctors from Max Healthcare can suggest the procedure best suited for you.
Read more health blogs about cancer introduction.
