UroLift® System
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases facing aging men and impacts quality of life by causing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). However, most men suffer symptoms for years before consulting with a healthcare provider for reasons such as being embarrassed or believing that changes in urinary function are just “part of getting older.” As such, it is important to ask patients about LUTS and prostate-related concerns and identify patients who need treatment.
Current treatment options can leave many patients inadequately addressed. Medical therapy provides modest symptom relief. However, side-effects prompt many patients to discontinue treatment. Interventional procedures aim to remove or ablate prostate tissue in order to relieve urethral obstruction. While effective, these procedures result in a difficult healing period and can cause long-term complications including sexual dysfunction. Thus, patients who are dissatisfied with drugs yet unwilling to undergo surgical intervention could benefit from a new treatment option.
Athens Area Urology is proud to inform you of a new, minimally invasive treatment option for patients with moderate-severe LUTS secondary to BPH called UroLift® System Treatment. The UroLift System directly opens the urethra by retracting the obstructing prostatic lobes without cutting, heating or removing prostate tissue. The prostatic lobes are retracted by using small permanent implants. Clinical data have shown the following:
Rapid symptom relief as early as 2 weeks post-procedure with only mild urinary discomfort post-procedure during the recovery period
The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia
Successful urethral expansion may be immediately confirmed endoscopically post-procedure
Some patients may not need post treatment catheterization
There have been no reports of new onset of sexual dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation or permanent erectile dysfunction
The most common adverse events reported include hematuria, dysuria, micturition urgency, pelvic pain, and urge incontinence. Most symptoms were mild to moderate in severity and resolved within two to four weeks after the procedure
Interested in learning more? Please call our office at 706-612-9401 or fill out our form.