UNDERSTANDING THE PROSTATE
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that forms a part of the male reproductive system. The prostate secretes fluid that carries sperm. It surrounds the urethra, the canal which carries urine from the bladder out of the body. With age and time, the prostate enlarges causing pressure on the urethra, similar to a clamp on a garden hose. This causes problems with urination.
The appropriate treatment for both Benign Prostate Hypertrophy and Prostate Cancer should be carefully selected considering the stage of the disease, current medical conditions, and the patients and the physicians concerns.
The treatment alternatives for prostate, successfully practiced at Hattat Hospital include:
A simple and effective solution for BPH : Greenlight Laser System and HIFU Transrectal High Intensity Focused Ultrasound System for Prostate Cancer. Men diagnosed with prostate cancer have many treatment options available. One of the latest treatments available does not involve surgery or radiation but instead uses Ablatherm® High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) to destroy the cancer.
Benign Prostate Hypertrophy
Half of all men over the age of 50 will develop an enlarged prostate, also known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH.
Symptoms
By the time when a man reaches his 70's or 80's, 80% will experience urinary symptoms including:
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Sudden need to urinate
- Need to strain or push to urinate
- Pain or burning
- Feeling that your bladder never completely empties
- Dribbling or leaking
- Weak stream
Diagnosis
Several tests help the doctor identify the problem and decide the best course of treatment. The tests vary from patient to patient, but the following are the most common.
- Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
- Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Blood Test
- Rectal Ultrasound
- Urine Flow Study
- Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)
- Cystoscopy
The appropriate treatment should be carefully selected considering the stage of the disease, current medical conditions, and the patients and the physicians concerns.
The treatment alternatives for BPH, successfully practiced at Hattat Hospital include: medical therapy, heat therapies , invasive surgery (transurethral resection of the
prostate-TURP) and Greenlight Laser System.
A Simple and Effective Solution: GreenLight Laser System
PVP for Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate, performed with the GreenLight laser system, offers a unique and simple solution to BPH because it combines the effectiveness of TURP, the surgical "gold standard" with the safety, comfort and ease of a therapeutic alternative.The GreenLight laser system uses a very high powered "green laser" which immediately vaporizes and precisely removes enlarged prostate tissue.Most patients return home a few short hours after the PVP procedure and can return to normal, non-strenuous activities within days.
The Procedure: A thin fiber is inserted into the urethra through a cystoscope. The fiber delivers green laser energy that quickly vaporizes and precisely removes enlarged prostate tissue. The physician is able to view safely and control the treatment area, tailoring it to each patient’s anatomy and needs. Natural urine flow is immediately restored and urinary symptoms are relieved. Patients may be released after a few hours or after an overnight stay. Many patients do not need a catheter. If one is required, it is usually removed in less than 24 hours. After the procedure you may have some mild discomfort such as slight burning during urination for a week or so. This is easily managed with mild pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs. Most patients can resume normal activities like driving a car or working a desk job within the week. The GreenLight PVP Laser Procedure should not affect your ability to have an erection or an orgasm. Retrograde ejaculation or dry climax, may occur. If you are sexually active, you can look forward to remaining so.
Greenlight PVP Procedure Is:
- Safe - the GreenLight PV System designed for this procedure is very precise and the vaporization is limited to the excess tissue only.
- Minimally invasive - no large openings are required to access the treatment area.
- Various anesthetic options - to insure patients' comfort nearly any type of anesthesia can be used, from local to general.
- No rectal thermal monitoring device necessary - due to high safety and limited injury area there is no need to monitor temperature inside the treatment area.
- Virtually blood-free - dramatically decreased healing time.
- Low (about 50%) incidence of catheterization - no constraints, immediate freedom of movement.
- Short (less than 24 hours) catheterization time - for those patients who would require a catheter, the constrains are very short-term.
- Outpatient procedure - go home the same day.
- Immediate relief of symptoms - immediate improvement of the quality of your life.
- Preservation of sexual functions - there is no risk of sexual dilapidation as result of the procedure.
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