Non-invasive laser surgery treatment offered for benign prostatic hyperplasia
Men diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, may find relief in the form of a non-invasive laser surgery treatment offered by Aurora BayCare Urological Surgeons.
The treatment, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), uses a laser to remove obstructive prostate tissue responsible for urinary tract issues that include a weakened urine stream, incomplete bladder emptying, repeated urinary tract infections and more.
“It is one of only two surgeries approved by the American Urological Association guidelines for prostates greater than 80g and often times can be performed as a day surgery procedure with no abdominal incisions,” says Dr. Joshua T. Piotrowski, an Aurora BayCare urological surgeon in Green Bay. He offers the HoLEP procedure.
HoLEP is performed endoscopically, meaning there are no incisions.
“Approaching the procedure endoscopically also results in a reduced bleeding risk, which, in turn, minimizes a patient’s time of stay in the hospital,” Piotrowski says.
With the patient under general anesthesia, Piotrowski uses the laser to cut and remove obstructive prostate tissue while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.
The excised tissue is pushed into the bladder, where it can be removed via a special tool. The tissue can then be sent to a laboratory to test for cancer.
The procedure takes from 45 minutes to two hours, depending on the size of the prostate. It often results in faster recovery and symptom relief than with traditional prostate surgery. It also offers less risk of retreatment.
Patients that aren’t considered candidates for HoLEP include those that:
- Have had certain types of prior prostate treatments
- Cannot lie on their back with their legs raised, a position necessary for the procedure
Enlarged prostate is one of the most common diseases in aging men. About 50 percent of men between ages 51 and 60 will have some signs of enlarged prostate. By age 80, up to 90 percent of men will have signs of this condition.