Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia – Invasive Treatment Procedures
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the condition of prostate becoming overly- enlarged. This causes partial to complete urethral obstruction that produces signs and symptoms such as urinary straining, intermittent urination and increased urinary urgency. Generally, hormonal imbalance is viewed as the theoretical cause of this disorder. BPH is prevalent for people ages 60 and above but is evidently absent for those people ages 40 and below. Treatment for this disorder is available in many forms. In some cases wherein pharmacologic measures are not anymore effective, invasive treatments are used in order to resolve this problem. These procedures are less invasive compared to the surgical interventions.
The procedure is called transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) or transurethral microwave is approved by the FDA in 1996. It is an invasive procedure that uses a device that emits microwaves that destroy excess prostate tissue through heat. The computer regulates the microwaves and sends this through a catheter that emits heat to the prostate tissues. The temperature is regulated at least 111 degrees Fahrenheit. The urethra and other organs in the inguinal area are sensitive to heat. In order to resolve this, the device provides a cooling temperature through the tube’s body. This action mainly focuses the heat in the prostate tissues. The procedure usually takes about 1 hour and considered as an outpatient therapy. Microwave therapy does not directly provide cure for BPH since its main action is to directly reduce the prostate size. However, it greatly alleviates the symptoms such as reduced urination, straining, intermittent urine flow, and urgency. The therapy requires bladder emptying as much as possible prior to the test. Urine test is also conducted in order to assess any urinary tract infection.
Another procedure is TUNA or Transurethral Needle Ablation, which is, approved 1996 for the treatment of BPH. This procedure works just like TUMT. The main concept is to heat up the extra prostate tissues. This device uses twin needles to heat up the extra prostate tissues that in turn reduce prostate size. A certain part of the device, which is called Shield, protects the nearby organs from heat damage.
Water-induced thermotherapy is a procedure that uses also the concept of heat. TUNA and TUMT directly apply heat to the prostate tissues in order to trim down its excess. However, water-induced thermotherapy uses heat but applies it indirectly using heated water. This procedure uses a catheter with multiple shafts. This is being placed in the urethra in order to have the treatment balloon rests in the middle portion of the prostate serving as an anchor. This procedure uses a computer-controlled water temperature that flows into the balloon and heats up the aimed prostate tissues. The other parts of urinary and reproductive system are shielded from the heat therapy. The destroyed tissues are passed down in the urine.
