| Surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia | |
|---|---|
 Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) |
If medical treatment is not effective, surgery may need to be performed for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
| Surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia | |
|---|---|
| Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) |
If medical treatment is not effective, surgery may need to be performed for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
There are two invasive surgical procedures done for BPH:
There are two types of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): the standard monopolar and the newer bipolar procedure. A 2019 Cochrane review of 59 studies that included 8924 men with urinary symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. [4] This review found that bipolar and monopolar TURP probably results in comparable improvements in urinary symptoms, as well as a similar erectile function, the incidence of urinary incontinence, and the need for retreatment. Bipolar surgery likely reduces the risk of TUR syndrome and the need for blood transfusion.[ citation needed ]
Efforts to find newer surgical methods have resulted in newer approaches and different types of energies being used to treat the enlarged gland. However some of the newer methods for reducing the size of an enlarged prostate, have not been around long enough to fully establish their safety or side-effects. These include various methods to destroy or remove part of the excess tissue while trying to avoid damaging what remains. Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TVP), laser TURP, visual laser ablation (VLAP), ethanol injection, and others are studied as alternatives. [5]
Minimally invasive therapies can offer faster recovery compared with traditional prostate surgery. [6] They can further be divided into laser surgery (requiring spinal anesthesia) and other non-laser procedures.
Prostate laser surgery is used to relieve moderate to severe urinary symptoms caused by prostate enlargement. The surgeon inserts a scope through the penis tip into the urethra. A laser passed through the scope delivers energy to shrink or remove excess tissue that is preventing urine flow. [7]
Different types of prostate laser surgery include:
Both wavelengths, GreenLight and Holmium, ablate approximately one to two grams of tissue per minute.[ citation needed ]
Post-surgical care often involves placement of a Foley catheter or a temporary prostatic stent to permit healing and allow urine to drain from the bladder.
These procedures are typically performed with local anesthesia, and the patient returns home the same day. Some urologists have studied and published long-term data on the outcomes of these procedures, with data out to five years.
Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) was originally approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996, with the first generation system by EDAP Technomed. Since 1996, other companies have received FDA approval for TUMT devices, including Urologix, Dornier, Thermatrix, Celsion, and Prostalund. Multiple clinical studies have been published on TUMT. The general principle underlying all the devices is that a microwave antenna that resides in a urethral catheter is placed in the intraprostatic area of the urethra. The catheter is connected to a control box outside of the patient's body and is energized to emit microwave radiation into the prostate to heat the tissue and cause necrosis. It is a one-time treatment that takes approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the system used. It takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks for the damaged tissue to be reabsorbed into the patient's body.
Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) operates with a different type of energy, radio frequency (RF) energy, but is designed along the same premise as TUMT devices, that the heat the device generates will cause necrosis of the prostatic tissue and shrink the prostate. The TUNA device is inserted into the urethra using a rigid scope much like a cystoscope. The energy is delivered into the prostate using two needles that emerge from the sides of the device, through the urethral wall and into the prostate. The needle-based ablation devices are very effective at heating a localized area to a high enough temperature to cause necrosis. The treatment is typically performed in one session, but may require multiple sticks of the needles depending on the size of the prostate. The most recent American Urological Association (AUA) Guidelines for the Treatment of BPH from 2018 stated that "TUNA is not recommended for the treatment of LUTS/BPH". [11]
Water vapour thermal therapy (marketed as Rezum) is a newer office procedure for removing prostate tissue using steam. Several studies including a four-year follow-up provided evidence for improvement of BPH symptoms, preserved sexual function, and low surgical retreatment rates. [12] [13]
Prostatic urethral lift (marketed as Urolift) is a procedure for men with urinary symptoms caused by prostate enlargement. It consists of placing small hooks that compress the prostate tissue to open the urinary stream without cutting or removing tissue. This procedure likely improves quality of life without additional negative side effects when compared with a sham surgery. [14]
Compared with transurethral resection of the prostate, the standard surgery for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia, this procedure may be less effective in reducing urinary symptoms but may preserve ejaculation and have fewer unwanted effects on erections. [14]
Temporary implantable nitinol device (marketed as TIND and iTIND) is a device that is placed in the urethra that, when released, is expanded, reshaping the urethra and the bladder neck.
The American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines for the treatment of BPH from 2018 list minimally invasive therapies including TUMT - but not TUNA - as acceptable alternatives for certain patients with BPH. [11] However, the European Association of Urology (EAU) has - as of 2019 - removed both TUMT and TUNA from its guidelines. [15]
The two most feared complications of prostate surgery are erectile dysfunction and stress urinary incontinence. [16] The type of complications depend on the treatment modality used:
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) of the UK in 2018 classified some novel methods as follows. [22]
Recommended:
Not recommended:
The success of surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) – as measured by a significant reduction of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) – strongly depends on a reliable (unequivocal) pre-surgery diagnosis of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). A pre-surgery diagnosis of other LUTS only, such as overactive bladder (OAB) with or without urinary incontinence predicts little or no success after surgery. [27]
If BOO is present or not can be determined by reliable non-invasive tests, such as the Penile cuff test (PCT). In this test, first published in 1997, a software-steered inflatable cuff (similar as in a blood pressure meter) is placed around the penis to measure the pressure of urinary flow. [28] By applying this methode, a study of 2013 showed that 94% of the patients with the pre-surgery test result "Obstruction" had a successful surgery outcome. In contrast, 70% of the patients with the pre-surgery test result "No Obstruction" had a non-successful surgery outcome. [29] [27]
If BPH with obstruction additionally presents with overactive bladder (OAB), which is the case in about 50% of patients, [30] this latter symptom (OAB) persists even post-surgery in about 20% of patients. However, this rate only applies to a period of a few years. 10–15 years after surgery 48 of 55 patients (87%) with obstruction and OAB had kept their post-surgery reduction of obstruction, but their OAB symptoms had gone back to the pre-surgery status. [31]
The UNBLOCS trial compared using transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) to the thulium laser transurethral vaporesection of the prostate (ThuVARP). Both methods led to similar improvements, number of complications and lengths of hospital stay. Both were effective as treatment but TURP resulted in a better urinary flow rate. [32] [33]
Urology, also known as genitourinary surgery, is the branch of medicine that focuses on surgical and medical diseases of the urinary-tract system and the reproductive organs. Organs under the domain of urology include the kidneys, adrenal glands, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, and the male reproductive organs.
The prostate is both an accessory gland of the male reproductive system and a muscle-driven mechanical switch between urination and ejaculation. It is found in all male mammals. It differs between species anatomically, chemically, and physiologically. Anatomically, the prostate is found below the bladder, with the urethra passing through it. It is described in gross anatomy as consisting of lobes and in microanatomy by zone. It is surrounded by an elastic, fibromuscular capsule and contains glandular tissue, as well as connective tissue.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also called prostate enlargement, is a noncancerous increase in size of the prostate gland. Symptoms may include frequent urination, trouble starting to urinate, weak stream, inability to urinate, or loss of bladder control. Complications can include urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and chronic kidney problems.
Urinary retention is an inability to completely empty the bladder. Onset can be sudden or gradual. When of sudden onset, symptoms include an inability to urinate and lower abdominal pain. When of gradual onset, symptoms may include loss of bladder control, mild lower abdominal pain, and a weak urine stream. Those with long-term problems are at risk of urinary tract infections.
Transurethral resection of the prostate is a urological operation. It is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As the name indicates, it is performed by visualising the prostate through the urethra and removing tissue by electrocautery or sharp dissection. It has been the standard treatment for BPH for many years, but recently alternative, minimally invasive techniques have become available. This procedure is done with spinal or general anaesthetic. A triple lumen catheter is inserted through the urethra to irrigate and drain the bladder after the surgical procedure is complete.The outcome is considered excellent for 80–90% of BPH patients. The procedure carries minimal risk for erectile dysfunction, moderate risk for bleeding, and a large risk for retrograde ejaculation.
Prostatectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the prostate gland. This operation is done for benign conditions that cause urinary retention, as well as for prostate cancer and for other cancers of the pelvis.
Nocturia is defined by the International Continence Society (ICS) as “the complaint that the individual has to wake at night one or more times for voiding .” The term is derived from Latin nox, night, and Greek [τα] ούρα, urine. Causes are varied and can be difficult to discern. Although not every patient needs treatment, most people seek treatment for severe nocturia, waking up to void more than 2–3 times per night.
Transurethral needle ablation is a technique that uses low energy radio frequency delivered through two needles to ablate excess prostate tissue. A cystoscope/catheter deploys the needles toward the obstructing prostate tissue and is inserted into the urethra directly through the penis under local anesthetic before the procedure begins. The energy from the probe heats the abnormal prostate tissue without damaging the urethra. The resulting scar tissue later atrophies, reducing the size of the prostate which in turn reduces the constriction of the urethra. It can be done with a local anesthetic on an outpatient basis. It takes about an hour to perform the procedure. It takes about 30 days for the ablated prostate tissue to resorb.
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common condition where there is a frequent feeling of needing to urinate to a degree that it negatively affects a person's life. The frequent need to urinate may occur during the day, at night, or both. If there is loss of bladder control then it is known as urge incontinence. Overactive bladder affects approximately 11% of the population and more than 40% of people with overactive bladder have incontinence. Conversely, about 40% to 70% of urinary incontinence is due to overactive bladder. Overactive bladder is not life-threatening, but most people with the condition have problems for years.
A prostatic stent is a stent used to keep open the male urethra and allow the passing of urine in cases of prostatic obstruction and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Prostatic obstruction is a common condition with a variety of causes. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common cause, but obstruction may also occur acutely after treatment for BPH such as transurethral needle ablation of the prostate (TUNA), transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT), prostate cancer or after radiation therapy.
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) refer to a group of clinical symptoms involving the bladder, urinary sphincter, urethra and, in men, the prostate. The term is more commonly applied to men—over 40% of older men are affected—but lower urinary tract symptoms also affect women. The condition is also termed prostatism in men, but LUTS is preferred.
Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) is one of a number of effective and safe procedures used in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia. It is an alternative treatment to pharmacotherapy such as alpha blockers, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), transurethral needle ablation of the prostate, photoselective vaporization of the prostate and prostatic removal or prostatectomy.
Urologic diseases or conditions include urinary tract infections, kidney stones, bladder control problems, and prostate problems, among others. Some urologic conditions do not affect a person for that long and some are lifetime conditions. Kidney diseases are normally investigated and treated by nephrologists, while the specialty of urology deals with problems in the other organs. Gynecologists may deal with problems of incontinence in women.
Urodynamic testing or urodynamics is a study that assesses how the bladder and urethra are performing their job of storing and releasing urine. Urodynamic tests can help explain symptoms such as:
Overflow incontinence is a concept of urinary incontinence, characterized by the involuntary release of urine from an overfull urinary bladder, often in the absence of any urge to urinate. This condition occurs in people who have a blockage of the bladder outlet, or when the muscle that expels urine from the bladder is too weak to empty the bladder normally. Overflow incontinence may also be a side effect of certain medications.
GreenLight Laser Therapy uses a laser beam to remove prostate tissue. The laser treatment is delivered through a thin, flexible fiber, which is inserted into the urethra through an instrument called a cystoscope.
Prostatic artery embolization is a non-surgical technique for treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).
Aquablation therapy (AquaBeam) is a surgical procedure for men with lower urinary tract symptoms resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It is in the early stages of study. It is not categorized as minimally invasive as general anesthesia is required. The procedure was developed by PROCEPT BioRobotics and combines real-time visualization through a cystoscope and a bi-plane ultrasound, while using a high-velocity sterile saline heat-free waterjet and autonomous robotics to remove prostate tissue.
Prostate steam treatment (Rezum), also called water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT), is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for men with lower urinary tract symptoms resulting from prostate enlargement. It uses injections of steam to remove obstructive prostate tissue from the inside of the organ without injuring the prostatic part of the urinary tube.
Prostatic urethral lift is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. This procedure can be done under local anesthesia in an outpatient consultation.