Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is quite common and involves the enlargement of a man’s prostate gland as he ages. He can have trouble urinating, causing a number of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Symptoms may include:
Advanced Urology Centers of New York has helped thousands of men with this problem, and if you think you are suffering from BPH, we can help you, too. Below are some of the tests that an AUCNY urologist may order to diagnose conditions and determine the best treatment.
Medications prescribed:
Men who are experiencing moderate to severe BPH with LUTS (enlarged prostate) symptoms may be treated with medications such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), silodosin (Rapaflo), tamsulosin (Flomax) or terazosin (Hytrin), which are part of a class of medications known as alpha-blockers. These treatments work by relaxing the muscles around the bladder allowing an easier flow of urine.
Minimally invasive surgery performed:
Greenlight™ Laser:
A laser is used to quickly heat and evaporates the prostate tissue that is blocking the bladder opening. The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia and typically provides patients with symptom relief after the procedure.
Rezum™ Water Vapor Therapy:
Water vapor energy ablation shrinks the enlarged prostate using steam to remove the extra tissue that is pushing on the urethra. This non-surgical treatment is done in the office. Most patients see improvement of their symptoms within two weeks.
Transurethral Microwave Therapy (TUMT):
This procedure uses a small antenna that applies microwave energy to heat and destroy the extra enlarged prostate tissue which is blocking the urine flow.
Transurethral Needle Ablation (TUNA):
Radiofrequency waves are used to heat and destroy the enlarged prostate tissue. This procedure improves urine flow to provide symptom relief.
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP):
With the use of an electric current or laser light, TURP cuts away the extra enlarged prostate tissue. This procedure is usually a treatment for men with moderate to severe urinary problems who did not improve from medication therapy.
Urolift® System:
Serial suture implants are used to constrict the enlarged prostate tissue so that the urethra is no longer blocked. These serial sutures are placed facing each other from the lateral to the medial side of the prostate along the course of the urethra, narrowing the thick tissue bilaterally and widening the passageway. This minimally invasive procedure can usually be performed in our offices in under one hour and patients are able to go home the same day.
Surgical options:
Prostatectomy:
For very severe cases of enlarged prostate, AUCNY physicians perform a partial or complete removal of the obstructing prostate gland through a surgical incision.