One of the more innovative techniques for treating an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH) is called UroLift, an implanted medical device that is placed during a minimally invasive surgical procedure that does not involve any cutting, heating, or surgical removal of the gland. Instead, the device lifts or holds the enlarged prostate tissue away from the urethra so that urinary flow is not blocked.
The procedure can be performed in a doctor’s office or a clinic, and patients can return home the same day without any need for placement of a catheter. Thus far, studies of the procedure have shown that UroLift is a safe and effective way to manage symptoms of an enlarged prostate without the need for drugs.
Benefits of UroLift for treating an enlarged prostate
Men who want an alternative to medication or a more invasive procedure can consider UroLift for treatment of an enlarged prostate. Some of the benefits of choosing this method over others include:
- You don’t need to take medication every day
- You have not responded well to medication for BPH, especially regarding side effects
- You do not want to undergo major surgery because of potential complications or side effects
- You want a procedure that can help preserve your sexual function
New study on UroLift for enlarged prostate
In the Canadian Journal of Urology, a research team reported on their results of a five-year study of the effectiveness and safety of UroLift System for men with an enlarged prostate. A total of 208 men from 19 centers across the United States, Australia, and Canada participated in the study.
According to the authors, use of UroLift System “has reached maturity as a standard of care for BPH.” The study’s main author, Claus Roehrborn, MD, noted that implantation of the UroLift “can offer a solution with a better solution with a better risk profile than traditional BPH surgery…[and] significant improvement of symptoms by two weeks, with sustained relief to five years.
More specifically, the results of the study showed that
- Quality of life improved 50 percent over five years
- The need for retreatment was only 2 to 3 percent per year
The first line of treatment for an enlarged prostate is often medication, but the results can be ineffective and cause significant side effects, including sexual dysfunction, headache, and dizziness. Use of UroLift is a safe and effective option for the treatment of enlarged prostate and its symptoms. The most common side effects included pelvic pain, urge incontinence, hematuria, urinary urgency, and painful urination.
References
Business Wire. NeoTract announces publication of five-year results from pivotal trial of the UroLift System. 2017 June 30
Roehrborn CG et al. Five year results of the prospective randomized controlled prostatic urethral L.I.F.T. study. Canadian Journal of Urology 2017 Jun; 24(3): 8802-13
