In the following article, the specialist in Urology, Dr. Manuel Fernández Arjona, explains what the prostate laser technique consists of to eliminate the prostate gland.
Definition
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is the abnormal growth of the prostate gland that usually occurs in men after the age of 40. The prostate is a small gland, located at the bottom of the bladder and in front of the rectum. This gland serves to generate nutrients that bind to the sperm to enable them to fertilize.
Prostate laser
The prostate laser is a technique that allows the removal of the prostate gland with a very important advantage: it does not produce bleeding, so the risk of complications is almost nonexistent compared to conventional BPH treatment techniques. Other advantages are: the reduced time the patient spends with a catheter, there is no risk of incontinence or impotence and the patient recovers within 24 hours.
The preoperative procedure for this surgery consists of: an electrocardiogram (EKG), a chest x-ray and a blood test. As for the postoperative period, the steps to follow are: 24 hours of catheterization and taking antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs for 4-5 days.
Any patient would be suitable to remove the prostate gland with laser, although in large prostates (over 100 grams) would have to be assessed particularly with each patient.
Contraindications and results
As with any intervention, infection may occur. After surgery some discomfort may also appear, but always in very low percentages.
As with all prostate surgery, the result of this procedure is not definitive. In this case, as in other cases, the gland continues to grow after surgery and it is possible that in 13-15 years it will be the same size as before the intervention.