What is the prostate laser?
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or large prostate is a problem that affects many men and makes it difficult for them to eliminate urine, with painful urination, infections, rushing to the bathroom, very slow voiding and involuntary urine leakage. The green laser procedure uses a high-powered laser to instantly vaporize and precisely remove enlarged prostate tissue that causes these symptoms. It is one of the most modern and effective treatments.
What pathologies can be operated on with laser?
The laser system for photoselective vaporization or enucleation of the prostate is a revolutionary treatment for men suffering from the problem of prostate enlargement, also known as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). It can also be used to relieve symptoms in selected cases of prostate cancer, and to destroy bladder tumors or remedy strictures of the urethra.
What does laser surgery consist of?
It consists of an endoscopic surgical intervention, without cuts or sutures, through the natural orifice through which urine exits. Once the patient is anesthetized, usually with regional anesthesia (epidural type), a fine laser fiber is introduced through the urethra through an endoscope connected to a camera, to vaporize and eliminate the abnormally enlarged prostate tissue, leaving a wide channel for urine to pass easily through. The results and relief are rapid because the tissue obstructing the outflow of urine is converted to vapor without the need for cutting, and pain and bleeding are minimal. In those patients with very large prostate growths, the laser enucleation technique is used, which separates the adenoma (abnormal growth) from the prostate capsule, and then fragments and removes it.
What are the advantages of laser over conventional surgery?
Before green laser treatment, patients were forced to choose between an effective conventional surgical operation, which was very invasive and had some risk of incontinence and impotence, and other much less effective therapies. The laser procedure (photoselective vaporization or enucleation of the prostate) offers a unique and simple solution to prostate problems, combining the efficacy of “standard” surgery with the safety, comfort and ease of minimally invasive treatment. Green laser photovaporization is a safe, effective and long-lasting treatment; it provides rapid relief of urinary symptoms and a large increase in urine flow, with a less aggressive procedure that hardly requires hospitalization. Most patients return home several hours after the procedure and can return to their normal activities in a very short time, taking care that they do not engage in strenuous physical exercise in the first few days.