What exactly is Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate?
Prostate enucleation is a revolutionary treatment for patients suffering from severe urinary symptoms that do not respond to medical treatment due to an enlarged prostate.
The prostate is not removed, but its contents are completely emptied. We therefore leave a completely hollow prostate through which the patient will be able to urinate, as if he were a teenager.
In which cases is it indicated?
Above all, for patients with a large prostate. This is where the potential of the technique is unequaled.
How is it performed?
Endoscopically through the urethra, with an endoscope and with an energy source such as a laser or bipolar loop. Once the prostatic adenoma (which resembles the segments of an orange) has been enucleated, it is necessary to introduce a morcellator which crushes the adenoma and is easily removed.
What advantages does it have over the other existing techniques?
There is nothing comparable to enucleation when dealing with large prostates. It avoids classic open surgery with frequent bleeding and wound infection. Not even the laparoscopic or robotic approach is competitive with prostatic enucleation. All techniques competitive with enucleation are more aggressive and associated with serious complications.
How are the results?
Excellent, patients urinate with a thick and strong flow and their symptoms of urgency, frequency, sensation of incomplete emptying, difficulty of onset or interrupted flow disappear. They no longer require any treatment. Most of my patients when they enter the office show their regrets for not having made the decision to have surgery years before.
Are there any risks for the patient?
Any intervention involves a risk. However, these are limited and infrequent. In no case do we speak of impotence and incontinence is anecdotal and reversible.