For a lot of men who are suffering from an enlarged prostate gland drug treatment is the solution and can lower prostate symptoms to an acceptable level. However, for others however drug treatment does not prove helpful or is not a workable choice and the doctor may suggest minimally invasive surgical treatment.
The first option to consider is catheterization which involves the insertion of a catheter through the penis and into the bladder to act as a drain and is usually considered to be only a temporary solution. It is largely used for people who are waiting for the affects of drug treatment to kick in (a number of drugs used to treat an enlarged prostate gland can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months before they begin to show results) or for other surgical treatments. It may also be helpful in treating infections.
The next option to consider is Holmium laser enucleation prostate (HoLEP). This procedure, which is performed under anesthetic and involves a brief 1 to 2 day stay in hospital, involves the insertion of a resectoscope through the penis and into the urethra. After insertion a laser beam is then passed through the resectoscope and is used to remove tissue from the prostate gland.
Interstitial laser coagulation is another treatment which is omparable to HoLEP. This form of treatment is once again performed under anesthetic although patients are not usually required to stay in hospital overnight. For this treatment a cystoscope, which is a metal tube through which a laser and visual lens can be passed, is used to burn away tissue from the prostate gland using laser energy.
Where a patient is unable to accept anesthetic a prostatic stent may be used. Stenting involves the placement of a spring-like device in the urethra at the point at which it passes through the prostate gland in order to keep the urethra open. Regrettably there are one or two problems associated with this form of treatment and it is generally only used for individuals who suffer from additional medical problems and for whom surgery presents an unacceptable.
TUMT (transurethral microwave thermotherapy of the prostate) is another form of minimally invasive surgery that does not require full anesthesia or hospitalization and can be performed using a local anesthetic and with oral pain drugs. In this procedure a catheter is inserted through the penis and computer controlled microwaves heat up and shrink areas of the prostate gland.
Yet another office-based procedure is the transurethral radio frequency needle ablation of the prostate (TUNA). In this case light anesthesia and drugs are employed to make the patient drowsy and prostate gland tissue is heated and shrunk using radio frequency energy which is transmitted through several needles placed directly into the prostate gland. This treatment at first produces a swelling of the prostate gland which is followed by shrinkage and individuals will generally have to use a catheter for a brief time following this treatment.
There are clearly many different forms of minimally invasive surgery available for enlarged prostate gland treatment and individuals must discuss these with their doctor to decide which would be best in their own specific circumstances.
