Prostate enlargement is a frequent health condition experienced by men over 50. Medically, it is even referred to as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). The prostate growth touches the urethra creating urinary problems, the urge to constantly urinate at night, bladder gets empty soon, and slow stream. These changes with urine are prone to deviate an individual from usual activities and cause major disturbances.
As there is an evolution in the medical field, today, prostate laser surgery is recognized to be effective and not as painful for men who wish to experience long-lasting relief from the condition.
Enlarged prostate laser treatment involves removal of prostate tissue with the help of light beams. After the procedure is done, the patient can expect quick recovery, no more complications, and the bleeding automatically reduces.
Read this blog to find out about the prostate laser treatment procedure, benefits, cost, risk involved, and why one must get it done. In addition, we have covered how different it is from traditional prostate surgery.
Why is Prostate Laser Surgery Needed?
For prostate enlargement treatment, altering lifestyle and taking the right medication is the first step to follow. However, since the situation gets to another stage, most men need to get a surgery done and this becomes necessary for the following reasons:
1.Poor results from medication
Usually, medicines such as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and alpha-blockers are given. These medicines may not be as effective and might cause weakness and dizziness.
2. Adverse Urinary Symptoms
If symptoms worsen and are concerned with urine, then laser surgery is necessary. Look out for these signs
- Blocked urine stream
- Constant urinary tract infections
- The urge to frequently urinate
- Experiencing discomfort while passing urine
3. Issues Arising from BPH
If BPH is not treated at the right time it causes problems in the urinary tract, constant infections, damages the kidney, and causes urinary blockage.
4. Less-Invasive Surgery
For individuals who are already struggling with heart issues or are on blood thinners, they are suitable for enlarged prostate laser treatment. It reduces bleeding and hospital stay.
Types of Prostate Laser Surgery
Based on the prostate size and patient requirements, certain laser technologies are used, they include:
- Holmium Laser Prostate Surgery
This minimally invasive prostate surgery helps in elimination of the blocked prostate tissue. It is suitable for large prostates and provides long-term pain relief. The chances of relapse is low and the patient does not lose too much blood.
- Greenlight Laser
The excess tissue is vaporized with a green colored laser. It boosts recovery and eliminates medium to large prostates. After surgery, the symptoms improve, an individual does not need to stay for longer in the hospital, and there are lesser complications in this technique.
- Thulium laser prostatectomy
A technique that gives surgeons the leverage to easily remove the prostate. This surgery is done with utmost perfection. It works out for eliminating all prostate sizes. Catheter time used is comparatively shorter and it reduces bleeding.
Any type of laser prostate surgery chosen, ultimately provides safe and effective outcomes.
The Procedure: How Prostate Laser Surgery is Performed?
Here’s how the prostate laser treatment procedure takes place. Knowing about it is beneficial to assess what to expect
Evaluation before the surgery
The patient is asked to stop taking blood thinners and urologists do certain tests before performing the surgery. They are:
- Tests of the blood and urine
- Prostate ultrasound
- ECG
- Urine flow test
Administering Sedation
Anesthesia is given to patients before performing a laser prostate surgery.
3. Insertion of resectoscope
This thin tube is placed into the urethra to remove a tissue and it helps stop bleeding without cutting the skin.
4. Use of Laser Energy
With the help of a laser fiber , the overgrown tissue is removed. This helps in normal urine flow and unblocks the urinary tract.
5. Tissue Removal
Where performing a HoLEP is concerned, two or three pieces of the tissue are put into the bladder and using suction, the innermost prostate tissue is pulled out and further cut into small pieces. This is sent to the pathology lab to detect if there are signs of prostate cancer.
6. Catheter Insertion
When the urethra is slowly healing, a catheter is used to remove urine. This is done within 24 hours based on the procedure.
7. Patient is Discharged
After getting a minimally invasive prostate surgery done, patients are discharged home the next day.
Benefits of Laser Surgery for Prostate
A good laser prostate surgery has multiple benefits over traditional prostate surgery.
Less Painful
Interestingly, this procedure is not painful as there are absolutely no cuts made on the body.
Less bleeding
Blood vessels are sealed during the procedure, thus, it is comparatively safer. Even those who take blood thinners have no restriction.
Quick Recovery
It takes a few days to heal. Several patients continue with their day-to-day activities in no time.
Short Hospital Stay
Since the procedure is not complicated or long, discharge is expected within a day or two.
5. High Accuracy
This laser surgery won’t cause hindrance to the healthy structures, it only works on excess tissue removal.
6.Long-Term Results
After performing a HoLEP procedure, chances of relapse are significantly lesser.
7. Reduces likelihood of Sexual Problems
This laser procedure helps in maintaining good sexual health for most patients.
8. Successful With Larger Prostates
Prostate laser surgeries are way more beneficial in removing large prostates when compared to how TURP works.
Possible Risks and Side Effects
Keep in mind, prostate laser surgeries are safe but they come along with certain side effects you should be aware about, you might:
- Experience burning while urinating
- Slightly bleed for a few days
- An increased urge to urinate
- Ejaculatory dysfunction
- Urinary Incontinence at times
- Infection in the urinary tract
It is key to get your condition checked by a well-experienced surgeon as these risks are there despite them being rare. In some cases this could be due to injuries in the bladder or urethral strictures.
Recovery After Prostate Laser Surgery
It is no hassle to recover from an enlarged prostate laser treatment. It is easier when compared to traditional surgery.
Hospital stay comes to an end
The patient is discharged in a day or two.
Taking out the catheter
In a span of 24 hours, the catheter is taken out. However, there are exceptions incase the prostate is large.
Going back to the usual routine
An operated patient can slowly restart work in three days and continue with their normal routine in a week.
Increase In Water Consumption
To clean the bladder it is essential to drink enough water.
Keep Away From Lifting Weights
For around 3 weeks, patients should keep away from tiring work and avoid travelling.
Resume Sexual Activity At The Right Time
It is advisable to get back to sexual activities after 6 weeks based on how well the body has recovered.
Follow-Up Appointments
To heal well and check urinary function it is necessary to attend all the follow-up sessions at the right time.
Prostate Laser Surgery vs TURP
Here’s how prostate laser surgery is different from traditional prostate surgery
1.Rate of bleeding
Prostate Laser Surgery – Less
TURP – Medium
2.Number of days at the hospital
Prostate Laser Surgery – 1 day
TURP – 3 days
3.How long does the catheter stay inside
Prostate Laser Surgery – For a short time
TURP – unfortunately, for a long time
4.Suitability of the treatment for high-risk patients
Prostate Laser Surgery – Yes
TURP – Not suitable always
5.Effectiveness for large prostates
Prostate Laser Surgery – It is possible to treat it using the HoLEP technique
TURP – Not too many options to treat it
6.Healing Time
Prostate Laser Surgery – Quick
TURP – Slow
Cost of Prostate Laser Surgery in India
Multiple factors such as the hospital you choose, experience of the surgeon, technology you choose, the room for treatment, tests, medication and post-surgery care are taken into consideration.
On an average, the cost of prostate surgery in India ranges between ₹75,000 to ₹2,50,000. Use of modern equipment makes HoLEP comparatively more expensive. However, the hospital stay is not for a long time and it has an added advantage of less complications.
Choosing the Right Urologist or Hospital
The result of prostate enlargement treatment relies on the knowledge of the surgeon and technology used. It is wise to look for a professional specializing in HoLEP or PVP for faster results.
Speaking of technology, get treated at hospitals providing greenlight and holmium lasers. To choose the right hospital, knowing from patients having first-hand experience can say the best. Keep an eye out for patient reviews and ratings of the doctor and clinic.
To feel better assured, don’t miss out on finding out about the post-operative measures and the diagnostic equipment they use for treatment. Most importantly, the right center is the one where the doctor gives you a detailed explanation of the advantages and risks involved in getting the procedure done.
Conclusion
Minimally invasive prostate surgery is one of the most beneficial options today. Right from battling against urinary symptoms to expecting medicines to work, and they don’t, we use techniques such as HoLEP, GreenLight laser, and Thulium enucleation to provide safe and effective results.
Patients are elated about their stay at the hospital, the fact that they are bleeding less,long-lasting results, and chances of recovering fast with us. Always get a prostate enlargement treatment by a good urologist.
Urethra Clinic is one of the leading centers for performing cutting-edge prostate laser surgery with the use of advanced techniques. Our expert, Dr.Vikram Shah Batra has extensive knowledge on prostate enlargement treatment, he assures patients of exceptional care and personal attention.