Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlarged prostate not caused by cancer. The condition, which affects the flow of urine, is common among older men. Because an enlarged prostate squeezes the urethra, symptoms may include frequent and/or difficult urination, and leaking or dribbling.
Our fellowship-trained urologists at Cooper University Health Care have extensive experience in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia with a variety of non-surgical therapies, minimally invasive procedures, and traditional surgical approaches. It is our goal to provide you with relief from the symptoms of BPH and improve your quality of life through a personalized treatment plan developed specifically for you.
Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is surgery to remove excess prostate tissue that may be causing moderate to severe urinary problems caused by prostate enlargement . This procedure is done through the tube that carries urine to outside the body (urethra), so there is no incision in the skin.
General anesthesia, to ensure the person remains unconscious and relaxed during the procedure, or spinal anesthetic, to numb the prostate area, may be given. The surgeon inserts a special surgical instrument with an electrical cutting tool (resectoscope) into the tube that carries urine outside the body (urethra). Using the resectoscope, the surgeon trims away excess prostate tissue, one small piece at a time, while sealing blood vessels to control bleeding. As small pieces of tissue are cut, fluid from the resctoscope carries them into the bladder. They are then removed at the end of the procedure.
A special tube (catheter) may be placed to drain the bladder at the end of the procedure.
Transurethral resection of the prostate may be used to treat enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) particularly for men with other health problems which make newer procedures, such as laser photovaporization of the prostate, inadvisable.
Transurethral Incision of the Prostate
Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) is a minimally invasive surgery to relieve moderate to severe urinary problems caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia.
No prostate tissue is removed or destroyed during TUIP. Instead, small cuts (incisions) are made in the area where the prostate and the bladder are connected (bladder neck) in order to open up the urinary channel. This allows urine to pass through more easily. This procedure is done through the tube that carries urine outside the body (urethra), so there is no incision in the skin.
General anesthesia, to ensure the person remains unconscious and relaxed during the procedure, or spinal anesthetic, to numb the prostate area, may be given. The surgeon inserts a special surgical instrument with an electrical cutting tool (resectoscope) into the tube that carries urine outside the body (urethra). Using the resectoscope, the surgeon makes small cuts or grooves on the inner surface of the prostate where the bladder joins the prostate.
A special tube (catheter) may be placed to drain the bladder at the end of the procedure.
Transurethral incision of the prostate may be used to treat enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) or for other urinary conditions, such as recurring urinary tract infections, kidney malfunction or kidney damage, inability to control urination (incontinence), blood in urine, and bladder stones.
Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy
Transurethral microwave thermotherapy is a non-surgical approach that uses heat directed at the prostate to safely destroy enlarged tissue. With TUMT, symptoms of an enlarged prostate do not improve immediately after the procedure because it takes time for the body to absorb and discard the excess tissue destroyed by the procedure.
In some cases, the prostate may start to grow again, requiring more aggressive treatments.
However if the procedure is effective, no additional measures to treat prostate enlargement are required.
A person may be given a sedative and local anesthetic to numb the prostate area. A thin flexible instrument (catheter) is inserted in through the tube that carries urine outside the body (urethra) and into the bladder. Once the catheter is in place, a small microwave antenna is inserted and directs heat deep into the enlarged tissue. The heat damages cells in the prostate, which will cause it to shrink. A thermometer is used to monitor the temperature so that the antenna can be switched off if it becomes too hot. At the same time cool water is circulated inside the catheter to protect the urethra from the heat generated by the microwave energy.
A special tube (catheter) may be left to drain the bladder at the end of the procedure.
Transurethral microwave thermotherapy of the prostate may be used to treat enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) or other prostate obstructions.
Holmium Laser Enucleation
Holmium laser enucleation uses a laser to remove all or part of the prostate with fewer risks or complications of a prostatectomy. The procedure uses an instrument that precisely cuts a portion of the prostate, which is then cut into smaller pieces and removed. Once the tissue has been taken out, it cannot grow back, therefore, follow-up treatment is almost never needed. With this procedure, the removed prostate tissue can be examined afterward for other abnormalities in the prostate such as cancer.
General anesthesia, to ensure the person remains unconscious and relaxed during the procedure, or a spinal anesthetic, to numb the prostate area, may be given. The surgeon inserts a thin tube (endoscope) through the tube that carries urine outside the body (urethra). The laser is then used to separate the central part of the prostate from its surrounding capsule. The separated portion is pushed into the bladder and cut into smaller pieces. These pieces are then taken out of the bladder and may be sent for further examination.
A special tube (catheter) may be left to drain the bladder at the end of the procedure.
Holmium laser enucleation may be used to treat enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH). It may also be used to reduce discomfort for urinary obstructions caused by prostate cancer and inflammation.
Transurethral Needle Ablation
Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) is a minimally invasive procedure that uses radio frequency energy waves delivered through fine needles to heat and destroy (albate) obstructive prostate tissue. This treatment is intended to destroy only the obstructive tissue, leaving the urethra and the rest of the prostate intact.
A person may be given a sedative and local anesthetic to numb the prostate area. The surgeon inserts a special thin flexible instrument (catheter) through the tube that carries urine outside the body (urethra) and into the prostate. The catheter is equipped with adjustable needles that are guided precisely into the obstructive prostate tissue. The needles emits radio-frequency energy, heating the prostate. This results in destruction of the obstructive prostate tissue, which will be absorbed by the body over time.
Transurethral needle ablation of the prostate may be used to treat enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) or other prostate obstructions.
Prostatectomy
Prostatectomy is surgery to remove all or part of the prostate gland. The procedure may be “simple” with the removal of the prostate only or “radical” with the removal of the gland and some surrounding tissue. Radical prostatectomy is typically used to remove a prostate containing cancer while simple is done for non-cancerous conditions.
General anesthesia, to ensure the person remains unconscious and relaxed during the procedure, or spinal anesthesia, to numb the prostate area, may be given. The procedure can be done as an open, laparoscopic, or robot-assisted surgery.
With the open procedure, the surgeon makes a large cut (incision) in the lower stomach area to access and remove the prostate. The minimally invasive laparoscopic approach uses a specialized surgical camera and instruments inserted through several small incisions to access and remove the prostate. In the robotic procedure, the surgeon makes several key-hole sized incisions in the lower stomach for robotic arms, which hold and manipulate the surgical instruments. The physician sits at a console and guides the robotic arms during the surgery to cut out the prostate and other tissue.
Laser Photovaporization of the Prostate
Laser photovaporization of the prostate uses a high-powered laser to vaporize and precisely remove excess prostate tissue. As a result, a wide-open channel is created and urine flow is immediately restored and other symptoms are relieved quickly.
General anesthesia, to ensure the person remains unconscious and relaxed during the procedure, or spinal anesthetic, to numb the prostate area, may be given. The surgeon inserts a thin tube with a camera on it (endoscope) through the tube that carries urine outside the body (urethra). A thin fiber is then inserted through the endoscope. This fiber delivers the laser energy to quickly vaporize and remove the excess tissue.
A special tube (catheter) may be left to drain the bladder at the end of the procedure.
Laser photovaporization of the prostate may be used to treat enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) or other prostate obstructions.
Contact Us
To make an appointment with a specialist in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, please call 800.8.COOPER (800.826.6737).