UroLift Procedure for Enlarged Prostate Problems

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH is one of the most common problems related to the prostate for men older than 50 years, with medication as the first choice of treatment.

UroLift is an alternative treatment option offered for men who suffer from BPH. It offers relief for patients with enlarged prostate symptoms that cause severe difficulty with urine flow. The procedure does not involve any heating, cutting, or removal of any prostate tissue.

What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

BPH, also known as Benign Prostate Hypertrophy, is a benign condition in which the tissue of the prostate gland becomes enlarged to such an extent that it causes problems with urination such as reduced flow or complete blockage.

The male prostate is a small gland surrounding the urethra, the tube through which the urine flows from the bladder to the outlet in the penis.

What Are the Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

While symptoms may be experienced differently by each individual, the most common symptoms of BPH may include some or a combination of the following:

– Frequent urgency to urinate
– Urine leakage
– Discomfort
– Frequent urination during the night
– Inability to urinate

Men rarely experience symptoms of BPH before the age of 40 while more than 50% of men have some symptoms of an enlarged prostate in their 60s. More than 90% of men over 70 experience some symptoms associated with BPH.

Diagnosis of BPH

BPH is sometimes diagnosed during a routine rectal examination at the doctor’s office. If you suspect that you may have BPH, there are tests such as a urine study flow, urinalysis, trans-rectal ultrasound, or cystoscopy to help diagnose BPH.

The procedure is effective in patients with at least some form of bladder contraction still present, bi-lobar hypertrophy, and a prostate size of 80g or less.

How Does It Work?

The UroLift device is inserted into the obstructed urethra in order to access the affected prostate. It effectively compresses the surrounding tissue and uses small implants to lift the tissue and hold it out of the way of the blocked urethra.

The implants act like tie-backs that permanently hold the tissue in place after the device has been removed, thereby offering a permanent solution to the symptoms of BPH. It works well for patients who have small to moderately enlarged prostate glands and do not wish to take medication.

The Benefits of UroLift Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

The symptoms of an enlarged prostate can have a serious impact on the quality of a man’s life. The benefits of the UroLift system will not only provide relief from the bothersome urinary problems of BPH but also have a positive effect on the preservation of ejaculation.

The procedure can be performed in a doctor’s office under local anesthesia making recovery time faster. It can prevent more invasive procedures in the future if the prostate becomes too enlarged.

Several considerations such as the prevalence of urinary tract symptoms due to BPH in men over the age of 50, side effects from available medication, and the rate of morbidity related to surgical ablation or resection have all given rise to the need for alternate solutions.

The UroLift system is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate gland that provides appropriately selected patients the opportunity of a single, office-based procedure instead of taking multiple daily drugs for an indeterminate time.

The choice of treatment for BPH is a quality of life issue that should be carefully discussed with a professional urologist. Depending on the severity of the condition, UroLift can alleviate the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland and provide a degree of symptomatic relief, but may not be appropriate for every patient.