Until now, open surgical techniques have been used for prostate treatments. However, in recent years different laser techniques have been used that minimize complications and offer greater advantages.
Advances in prostate surgery: laser treatment
The techniques used until now to treat prostate hyperplasia have been transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and retropubic adenomectomy (open surgery). However, laser prostate surgery is becoming more and more common, and the accumulated experience in this technique is about 10 years.
This has made it possible to establish and investigate new standards of minimally invasive surgery, in order to avoid the complications of open surgery while maintaining the effectiveness of the treatment.
Most commonly used laser techniques in prostate surgery
Among the most commonly used laser techniques in urology are laser enucleation and prostate vaporization. In addition, there are two widely studied techniques, Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and green laser vaporization of the prostate.
The use of one technique or the other will depend on the volume of the prostate. In large glands, laser enucleation is indicated, while in smaller prostates, prostate laser vaporization is used.
Advantages of the Holmium laser (HoLEP) for prostate surgery
HoLEP or Holmium laser is the technique that offers the greatest advantages:
- reduces bleeding
- reduces postoperative irrigation
- reduces catheterization time and hospitalization days.
- makes it possible to resect large prostates.
- it eliminates the transurethral resection syndrome by using saline solution.
- makes it possible to obtain material for pathological study.
- is the only laser useful for the fragmentation of bladder stones and urethral lithiasis.