Should I Get Surgery for My Enlarged Prostate?

The key factor in determining whether you should have surgery for enlarged prostate is the cause of the enlarged prostate. If your prostate enlargement is caused by cell growth in the tissues surrounding the urethra, non-surgical treatment may alleviate your symptoms. If, however, the prostate is enlarged because of middle lobe prostate growth, the cells are growing into the urethra and the area around the bladder outlet. Correcting this form of enlarged prostate will likely require surgery.

How invasive?

All enlarged prostate surgery is definitely not the same. Surgical options vary from minimally invasive procedures involving thermal or laser application to more comprehensive solutions, up to removal of the prostate (prostatectomy). The choice will depend on your physician's evaluation of your general health and risk factors.

Laser, Microwave, and Ultrasound

Advances in technology have created some less invasive means for alleviating symptoms. These forms of enlarged prostate surgery are often performed in the urologist's office and may require little or no anesthesia. If lasers are used, they work by directing a high-energy beam of light against obstructing tissues. The tissues are vaporized and the area of treatment is sealed. Usually, the procedure takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Patients can sometimes experience bloody urine for a week or so. Usually a catheter will be necessary until full bladder function returns. Some sexual side effects may also occur in rare cases. In microwave treatment, an antenna, sealed inside a catheter, is introduced into the prostate through the urethra. Heat is directed into the obstructing tissue to destroy it. The destroyed tissue is either reabsorbed by the body or eliminated through the urinary tract over a period of a few weeks. Sometimes temporary catheterization is necessary to promote proper drainage, and some patients experience mild side effects that usually subside after a few weeks. Ultrasound therapy is a new procedure undergoing clinical trials, in which high-energy sound waves are used to heat and destroy obstructing tissues.

Other Surgical Procedures

Trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a form of enlarged prostate surgery in which the surgeon inserts a resectoscope into the urethral opening in the penis, then surgically removes obstructing tissue. The resectoscope is a small, tubular device that contains a light, valves for controlling irrigating fluid, and an electrical loop for removing tissue and sealing blood vessels. The obstructing tissue is removed, the area is irrigated with fluid to flush debris into the bladder, and the area is sealed. This procedure usually involves a 3-day hospital stay. Up to 30% of men who have this procedure experience some sexual side effects, but these often resolve over time.


Uncover what you must know about prostate cancer - Click Here

 

Prostate News:


Recordati's enlarged prostate drug approved in Europe - Pharma Times
Recordati's enlarged prostate drug approved in EuropePharma TimesRecordati is celebrating the news that regulators in Europe have this morning approved silodosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia. ...and more »..

Combination Therapy More Effective for Enlarged Prostate - Urine ...
Combination Therapy More Effective for Enlarged Prostate -Urine Problems - Combination Therapy More Effective for Enlarged Prostate...

Men urged to get their prostates checked - Irish Health
Irish TimesMen urged to get their prostates checkedIrish HealthA leading consultant has urged Irish men to get enlarged prostate symptoms checked out and to receive regular testing for prostate cancer. ...Tackling men's most common cancerIrish Timesall 2 news articles »..

Generic Drug for Enlarged Prostate Approved « New York Recruiters
Filed Under: Network Recruiters: Jobs - Careers - Professional Employment by cprivett01 — Leave a comment. Mar 02, 2010. The first generic version of Flomax, a medication to treat the signs and symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland, .....

Murray — Managing and monitoring prostate problems - Sky Hi Daily News
Murray — Managing and monitoring prostate problemsSky Hi Daily NewsAds today suggest that treatment of an enlarged prostate is as easy as taking a pill, and sometimes it is. All pills have side effects, however, .....

Combination therapy more effective for enlarged prostate ...
Contact: Katherine Morales katherine.morales@utsouthwestern.edu 214-648-3404 UT Southwestern Medical Center DALLAS – March 3, 2010 – Like any successful...

Protox revises terms of private placement - Trading Markets (press release)
Protox revises terms of private placementTrading Markets (press release)... announced positive results from its Phase 2b placebo controlled trial called TRIUMPH, to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate). ...and more »..

Generic Flomax Approved for Enlarged Prostate (HealthDay) » World News
Generic Flomax Approved for Enlarged Prostate (HealthDay). March 2nd, 2010 by Leave a reply ». HealthDay – TUESDAY, March 2 (HealthDay News) — The first generic version of. Flomax (tamsulosin hydrochloride) capsules has been approved by .....

Ottawa Regional Hospital provides new treatment for prostate cancer - Morris Daily Herald
Ottawa Regional Hospital provides new treatment for prostate cancerMorris Daily HeraldA good candidate for Brachytherapy is a patient who has a moderately enlarged or non-enlarged prostate, does not have frequent urination (ie does not get up .....

Combination therapy more effective for enlarged prostate ...
DALLAS -- March 3, 2010 -- Like any successful team effort, the best qualities of two drugs commonly prescribed for enlarged prostate yielded better results than either of the medicines alone, according to a new study from UT .....

Agoura Hills woman grateful a charity saved her son's dog - Ventura County Star
Agoura Hills woman grateful a charity saved her son's dogVentura County StarCuddles was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, and Crowe said the dog should fully recover following a course of medication and being neutered, .....

Alternative Treatment For Enlarged Prostate « Health Articles Library
Ayurveda which is known as the oldest system of medicine dating back to more than 5000 years has mentioned about the problem of an enlarged prostate as follows ” their organ size of a peanut located near the urinary bladder and if it .....

Uncover what you must know about prostate cancer - Click Here

Technorati Tags: , ,

Google