Laser Prostatectomy

Overview

An enlarged prostate is treated with laser prostatectomy, which is a minimally invasive procedure and is considered the safest. The procedure is meant to remove symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

Traditional TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) has been the standard surgical procedure for an enlarged prostate for many years. However, with the introduction of laser light technology, the operation has become more effective, quicker and safer.

Laser Prostatectomy works in a similar manner like the TURP procedure. The only difference is that the laser technique gently cuts pieces of the prostate and vaporizes them, instead of cutting and scooping the pieces out of the prostate. While the traditional approach is associated with excessive bleeding, there is minimal blood loss in the laser technique that slices the prostate and instantly welds the opening ends. This means minimal bleeding during surgery and less scope of bleeding after surgery as well.

Thus, with a smoother, more powerful and more controlled approach, laser prostatectomy is considered one of the most popular operational techniques these days. A catheter may be required for a few hours after the surgery, thus ensuring quicker relief.

The surgery helps improve flow of urine through the urethra, which is connected to a tube outside the body. The reason for laser prostatectomy includes:

• To cure urinary tract infections
• To remove prostate glands
• To remove symptoms of an enlarged prostate
• Stop bleeding of the prostate
• Have bladder stones removed, etc.

There are, however, certain risks of prostate gland surgery that include blood loss, breathing problems, reactions to medicines, infections, heart attack, etc. A laser surgery helps to minimize these symptoms, thus giving you quicker relief from an enlarged prostate and the associated symptoms. Before laser prostatectomy, you should know about the preparations to be taken.

Before the treatment

• Visit the doctor and consult with him about your health issues, if any.
• You will have to undergo a thorough physical examination to ensure that your heart, lung, kidney and other organs are functioning properly. In case of any health concerns like high blood pressure, diabetes, lung and heart problems, intimate your doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor whether you are on any medications. Specify the names of the medicines to your doctor like the names of the drugs, supplements, vitamins, etc. Your doctor will tell you to stop taking certain medications, while start taking some new medicines as required before the surgery.
• Stop smoking several weeks before the surgery.
• Stop eating and drinking from the midnight of the day of surgery.
• Make sure you have the drugs as prescribed by your doctor on the day of the surgery with a small sip of water.

How it is performed

• You are given general or spinal anaesthesia before the start of the procedure.
• A narrow-optic fibre scope is placed through the tip of the penis inside the urethra. Laser rays are projected through the scope inside the prostate to destroy the extra tissues and vaporize them, thus blocking the flow of urine.
• The laser rays help to cut the tissues and glands, and weld them instantly to prevent blood loss.
• Surgeons place a catheter inside the bladder to help passing of urine out of your body, while the urethra takes some time to heal.
• Once done, the scope is slowly extracted out of the penis.

Recovery

Immediately after the operation, you are transferred to the recovery room. The catheter which was placed inside the bladder may stay in its place after you leave for home. Some patients are discharged on the same day, while others are allowed to go home the next day, depending upon the types of prostate surgery you have had.

For some days after the surgery, it is normal to find blood in urine, urge to urinate frequently, burning sensation while urinating, and other such signs. It is best advised to take the medications as prescribed, avoid any strenuous activities and sex for a week or two after the surgery. This will help speed up recovery time of laser prostatectomy. In case, you notice anything alarming or any severe symptoms, refer to a doctor right away.