Wednesday, March 27, 2024

What Is Laser Surgery For Prostate

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Laser Ablation Becomes Increasingly Viable Treatment For Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer laser treatment ‘truly transformative’ – BBC News

Prostate cancer patients may soon have a new option to treat their disease: laser heat. UCLA researchers have found that focal laser ablation the precise application of heat via laser to a tumor is both feasible and safe in men with intermediate risk prostate cancer.

The Phase 1 study, published June 10 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Urology, found no serious adverse effects or changes in urinary or sexual function six months after the procedure. The technique uses magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, to guide the insertion of a laser fiber into cancerous tumors. When heated, the laser destroys the cancerous tissue.

A follow-up study, presented in a poster presentation at the American Urology Association meeting in May, showed the potential to transfer this treatment for the first time into a clinic setting, using a special device that combines both MRI and ultrasound for real-time imaging. The Artemis device arrived at UCLA in 2009. Since then, 2000 image-fusion biopsies have been performed the most in the U.S. – and this large experience has paved the way for treatment to be done in the same way.

Up until now, capturing an image of a prostate cancer has been difficult because prostate tissue and tumor tissue are so similar. Precise, non-invasive surgical treatment has proved difficult as a result.

The laser treatment is not yet approved for use in prostate cancer by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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What Do Patients Say

GreenLight Laser Therapy has helped more than 1 million men around the world relieve the symptoms of BPH.1 And get back to life.

Guys dont typically talk about things like BPH. Even with their partners, friends, family or personal doctor. Until it starts getting in the way. Of work, sleep, sex, everything. Hear firsthand from men who battled BPHuntil this innovative treatment gave them new hope. And a better life.

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Why Prostate Laser Surgery

Compared to open prostatectomy and transurethral resection of the prostate, prostate laser surgery offers significant advantages to the patient. They include a general lower risk of post-surgery bleeding, a much shorter hospital stay , and a much quicker recovery. Men who undergo prostate laser surgery for BPH will also, in contrast to other procedures, generally notice an improvement in their urinary output and comfort right away. They are highly unlikely to need a urinary catheter for longer than 24 hours, again unlike with other procedures.

Long-term complications are also much less likely with prostate laser surgery than with more traditional forms of prostate surgery. Though that is good news, laser prostate surgery still carries both short-term and long-term risks, just like practically any other surgery. What are they?

Also Check: When To Start Testing For Prostate Cancer

When Should I Call For Help

  • Inability to urinate.
  • If you are not able to reach a nurse or doctor within 60 minutes, then go to the emergency room
  • Fever of more than 101.5 Fahrenheit along with sweats and chills.
  • Bright red blood in urine and large clots that make it difficult to urinate.
  • Severe pain that continues and is not relieved with pain medications, or leg pain.
  • More Information About Greenlight Laser Therapy For Bph

    Enlarged Prostate Treatment Chattanooga TN

    To find out if you are a candidate for GreenLight laser prostatectomy, or to refer a patient, contact the Minimally Invasive Urology Institute at or email .

    Lifespan, Rhode Island’s first health system, was founded in 1994 by Rhode Island Hospital and the Miriam Hospital. A comprehensive, integrated, academic health system with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Lifespan’s present partners also include Rhode Island Hospital’s pediatric division, Hasbro Children’s Hospital Bradley Hospital Newport Hospital Gateway Healthcare Lifespan Physician Group and Coastal Medical.

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    What Steps Should I Take To Prepare For The Procedure

  • Do not eat any solid food after 12am the night before surgery.
  • Do not drink any milk products after 12am . You may only drink water and take any routine medications up to 4 hours before your surgery.
  • Wear loose, simple clothing which can easily be changed. Leave all jewelry and valuables at home.
  • Bring a responsible adult companion to the hospital who will: remain in the hospital, be available to hospital personnel during your procedure, and assist you upon discharge by driving you home with close observation of your condition.
  • How Is The Procedure Done

  • The surgeon pushes a laser called a Holmium Laser through the telescope to remove the prostate gland tissue that is blocking urine flow leaving just the prostate tissue on the sides in place.
  • The surgeon pushes the removed prostate gland tissue into the bladder and then uses a device called a Morcellator to grind up and remove the tissue.
  • Also Check: Post Prostate Surgery Urinary Incontinence

    Greenlight Laser Therapy Animation

    Signs of BPH are:

    • urgent or frequent need to urinate during the day and at night
    • a slow or weak urinary stream
    • difficulty completely emptying the bladder
    • difficulty or delay in starting urination
    • a urinary stream that starts and stops

    When medical management of BPH symptoms is ineffective or the side effects of medications cannot be tolerated, men may choose a surgical procedure to correct the problem.

    How Is Greenlight Laser Prostatectomy Surgery Performed

    Green Laser Surgery

    Greenlight laser prostatectomy surgery is a minimally invasive surgery that is carried out under a general anaesthetic. Most patients are able to return home on the day of their procedure, but some require an overnight stay. The procedure usually takes around an hour.

    Your surgeon will pass a long, thin surgical instrument called a cystoscope into your bladder via your urethra. The cystoscope has a small camera attached to the end, allowing your surgeon to clearly see your bladder on a screen.

    They will then use the cystoscope to vaporise part of the prostate with highly targeted lasers to reduce its overall size before removing the cystoscope.

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    What Is Prostate Laser Surgery

    As the name implies, prostate laser surgery uses a scope that delivers a laser directly to the prostate. It is a procedure for patients with prostate enlargement. In most cases, it is used to relieve the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate. It is typically the last resource when oral medication and conservative treatment do not work.

    During the procedure, your doctor will insert a scope through the urethra. It reaches the prostate just below the urinary bladder. Then, it delivers laser energy directly to the prostate, removing excess tissue and shrinking the gland. The laser works through heat generation, directing heat into a specific spot in the prostate gland. There is not only one type of prostate laser surgery.

    There are a variety of other methods, including:

    • Thulium Laser Vaporesection and Enucleation of the Prostate
    • Diode Laser Vaporization and Enucleation

    What Are The Benefits Of Laser Surgery

    • Immediate symptom relief.
    • Urine flow improves dramatically after virtually bloodless procedure.
    • Patients are typically catheter free within 24 hours many immediately after the procedure.
    • Patients are able to return to their ordinary daily activities in 2-3 days.

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    Massachusetts General Hospital

    Read Also: What Are The Long Term Effects Of Removing The Prostate

    Schedule An Appointment To See A Urologist

    To schedule an appointment with a urologist at University of Utah Health, call 801-213-2700. You do not need a referral from your primary care provider or another care provider to schedule an appointment with our urologists. However, some insurance plans do require a referral in order for HoLEP to be covered. Talk to your insurance carrier about your specific plan requirements.

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    Laser Prostate Surgery And The Potential Side Effects

    Thulium laser feasible for enucleating large prostates

    Laser surgery on the prostate gland is a minimally invasive procedure surgical openings are not included and this type of surgery has fewer side effects. This procedure is used to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia , a condition usually referred to as enlargement of the prostate gland. Laser surgery involves powerful heat and radio waves with the highest energy abolishing the tissues of the prostate gland that blocks the urinary flow or other complications. Laser surgery attains immediate relief from symptoms, a quick recovery, as well as decreasing post-operative effects. However, there are some side effects that men may experience after laser surgery. These are generally short-lived, though. These side effects are listed below.

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    Green Light Laser Surgery For Prostate

    An enlarged prostate blocks the flow of urine from the bladder. Anyone who has known someone suffering from an enlarged prostate understands the importance of treating this condition that affects older men. Green Light Laser Surgery for Prostate is an effective procedure for treating this condition.

    Before this time, enlargement of the prostate was treated either with medication or for the more serious cases transurethral resection of prostate. The aim of either treatment is to free up the passage for the flow of urine from the bladder.

    The alternative to transurethral resection of prostate which is an invasive surgery is laser surgery for prostate. This is a non invasive procedure which employs the use of green light laser. This procedure involves the photoselective vaporization of the prostate thereby creating a passage for the flow of urine.

    When people hear of lasers, there is a tendency to get worried. There is no need to get worried as this process is a safe and quick alternative to the traditional method. The green light laser also known as KTP laser facilitatesthe procedure being completed with minimal fuss.

    Why Is Laser Surgery for Prostate Better?

    This method of treating prostate enlargement is preferred for the following reasons:

    Are There Side Effects?

    Study Selection And Data Extraction

    Two investigators independently assessed the titles and abstracts of the searched results. The full text versions of those studies, which were potentially eligible, were then assessed. For the study design, selection criteria, participants characteristics, interventions, outcome measures, study duration, results and other data of each included study were extracted. Extracted contents were recorded on data extraction forms, which were designed according to the advice given in the Cochrane Handbook46. We contacted authors to seek additional information where data were not reported or not clear.

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    Advantages Of Laser Focal Therapy

    Minimally Invasive

    A minimally invasive outpatient procedure

    Relatively Rapid Recovery

    Tends to have fewer disruptions to daily life compared with traditional treatment

    No General Anesthesia

    Uses local anesthesia and moderate, conscious sedation

    LFT has a lower reported incidence of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence than radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy

    Repeatable

    If necessary, LFT is a repeatable procedure

    No Limitations

    If necessary, surgery and radiation are options. RP was not complicated by the FLA procedure.

    Other Treatment Options For Prostate Cancer

    Holmium Laser for BPH-Mayo Clinic

    There are several other prostate cancer treatment options that are available for the patients. Chemotherapy is one of the other popular treatment modality that may be used after surgery for patients with the cancer of the prostate.

    The following table highlights the average cost of chemotherapy for prostate in some of the top medical tourism destinations in the world:

    Countries
    • Hormone therapy
    • External beam radiotherapy

    Thus, the total cost of prostate cancer treatment varies greatly from one individual to another, depending on the individual medical case.

    Explore Best Hospitals for Prostate Cancer Treatment

    Via Flickr/CC BY 2.0

    When a space-age cure for cancer thats truly transformative and a huge leap forward hits the headlines, its going to catch peoples eyes.

    And that was the case for one study published yesterday in the journal Lancet Oncology that received widespread media attention. The results came from a clinical trial testing an experimental laser treatment on men with prostate cancer. And the findings were positive: the therapy is safe to use in these patients.

    Thats good news.

    But what do the results really mean for men with prostate cancer? We spoke to an expert on prostate cancer, Professor Malcolm Mason, to find out.

    The great thing is that this study showed the treatment is safe to give to patients, he says.

    Heres what it did show.

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    What Treatments Are Used In Focal Therapy For Localized Prostate Cancer

    Focal therapy uses ablation, which is the use of extreme temperatures to destroy tissue. In focal ablation, the area of the prostate that contains the index lesion is targeted, rather than treating the entire prostate gland. Focal ablation techniques include:

    • Cryotherapy: The use of very cold gases passed through needles to freeze and destroy cancer tissue.
    • HIFU : The use of high-frequency sound waves directed at the tumor through an ultrasound probe inserted into the rectum. The high intensity waves cause the diseased tissue to heat up and die.
    • : A drug called a photosensitizer is injected into the bloodstream. This drug then absorbs light rays directed at the tumor, and produces an active form of oxygen that destroys cancer cells.
    • Laser ablation: The use of laser radiation energy pinpointed to a very small area to burn away cancerous tissue. Some laser ablation has the advantage of being able to be performed at the same time as magnetic resonance imaging , allowing very specific targeting and also real-time views of results.

    Advantages And Disadvantages Of Surgery

    What may be important for one person might be less important for someone else. The advantages and disadvantages of surgery may depend on your age, general health and the stage of your cancer.

    Advantages

    • If the cancer is completely contained inside the prostate, surgery will remove all of the cancer.
    • The prostate is looked at under a microscope to give a clearer picture of how aggressive your cancer is, whether it has spread outside your prostate and if you need further treatment.
    • Your health professionals can get a good idea of whether your cancer was completely removed during surgery. Your PSA level should drop so low that its not possible to detect it at six to eight weeks after surgery.
    • If there are signs that your cancer has come back or wasnt all removed, you may be able to have further treatment.
    • Some men find it reassuring to know that their prostate has been physically removed, although you will still need to have follow-up tests to make sure no cancer cells have spread outside the prostate.

    Disadvantages

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    Do Blood Thinners Need To Be Stopped Prior To Surgery

    It is best to discuss about ongoing medications and existing medical conditions with the treating urologist. Our experts will advise the best possible course of action personalised to your needs. Largely speaking, Clopidogrel needs to be stopped 5 days before the surgery. Another commonly used drug, Ecosprin when being taken in a dose of 150 mg, needs to be stopped 7 days prior. However, Ecosprin 75 mg need not be stopped in cardiac cases when undergoing a laser surgery. However, these figures are only for information. Your urologist will individualise the drugs and dosages for you. So always remember to tell the doctor about all your medical history.

    Possible Complications After Prostate Laser Surgery

    Thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP): transurethral ...

    Prostate laser surgery is now commonly used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia . BPH is a non-cancerous condition that occurs in most men as they age, but though it is not in any way life-threatening, it can lead to very uncomfortable symptoms. They include not being able to pass urine easily, a constant sense of urinary urgency, and the feeling that your bladder has not been emptied completely following urination.

    During prostate laser surgery, excess prostate tissue is melted away or cut off with the use of a beam that delivers concentrated light to precise locations, a beam that is inserted into your body through the urethra. Various types of prostate laser surgery exist. vaporize the excess prostate tissue, while Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate is used to cut the excess tissue off, then to be removed by another instrument.

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    The Different Types Of Prostate Surgery

    Prostatectomy

    The term prostatectomy is used to describe a number of different surgical procedures to remove either part or all of the prostate gland. This may be required to treat prostate cancer or BPH.

    When only a part of the prostate is removed, this is called a simple prostatectomy. This process involves enucleating it from its capsule to trim away excess tissue, but where the sphincter muscle and nerves remain intact. It is usually used to treat BPH, which is a benign condition, meaning there is no risk of malignant cells having moved on to surrounding tissue.

    When the entire prostate gland, capsule , the surrounding lymph nodes and neighbouring tissue is removed, this is known as a radical prostatectomy. This is usually a treatment for men with localised prostate cancer and there a number of techniques used:

    Open Surgery This is where the prostate is removed via a large single incision in the lower abdomen, or the perineum .

    Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy This is where the prostate is removed via several small incisions in the lower abdomen using small surgical instruments. This process is much less invasive than open surgery.

    Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy Much like laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, the prostate is removed via small incisions in the lower abdomen. Robotic-assisted instruments are inserted through the incisions and controlled by a surgeon.

    Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate

    Transurethral Resection of the Prostate

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