The UroLift system represents an innovative treatment for men suffering from BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia). BPH symptoms can be very severe and cause important issues in day-to-day life. The Prostatic Urethral Lift Procedure is here to offer rapid and long-lasting relief from these distressing symptoms.
The enlargement of the prostate blocks the urethra, resulting in a urination blockage. The symptoms associated with BPH affect men’s quality of life, physically and emotionally. Whether we talk about the urgency to urinate, incontinence or sexual dysfunctions, BPH symptoms are hard to cope with.
In their search for relief and desire to resume their normal lives, most men take prescription medications. Contrary to their expectations, these medications can cause extreme tiredness or even sexual dysfunctions. If you do not want to start taking a pill for BPH or if you are unsatisfied with BPH medication effects, the UroLift treatment may be right for you!
Why choose the Prostatic Urethral Lift Procedure?
Treatment with the UroLift system is a minimally-invasive surgical technique that rapidly relieves BPH symptoms so that men can resume their daily activities right away.
Compared with other more invasive surgical procedures available, the UroLift procedure is painless and involves a very short recovery period. It provides a significant improvement in patients’ quality of life not only because it effectively treats the lower urinary tract symptoms caused by BPH, but also because it preserves the sexual functions.
How does the UroLift procedure work?
The UroLift system is a simple procedure that is usually performed in a doctor’s office. The doctor uses tiny stainless-steel implants that lift and hold the enlarged prostate tissue so that it no longer blocks the urethra. This revolutionary treatment does not require heating, cutting or removal of the prostate tissue, as is happens in other major surgeries.
The UroLift system is addressing the root of the problem, the blockage of the flow of urine. After the UroLift device in removed, it leaves an open urethra, unblocking the urine path and providing rapid relief.
This type of procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia in a physician’s office or ambulatory surgery center. Typically, patients can return home the same day without a catheter and resume their normal activities.
What are the main benefits of the UroLift procedure?
The UroLift prostatic urethral lift is more effective at relieving BPH symptoms than any medication, filling the gap between prescription medication and major, invasive surgeries.
- It can be performed under local anesthesia in a doctor’s office in about one hour.
- For most patients, the fact that this treatment preserves the sexual function represents one of the most important benefits.
- It is also a catheter-free post procedure and can discontinue medical therapy afterwards.
What are the most common side effects of the UroLift procedure?
As it happens with any medical procedure, the UroLift system treatment may cause a number of side effects, but these are mild to moderate. Over 95% of the adverse events reported in published studies did not require any form of treatment or surgical intervention. These side effects may include:
- pain or burning with urination
- the presence of blood in the urine ( hematuria)
- pelvic pain or an uncontrolled need to urinate( urgency)
These adverse events should not be worrisome, considering that they usually resolve within two to four weeks after the procedure.
Who can be selected to undergo the UroLift system procedure?
Patient selection is performed carefully, as it provides the key to the procedure’s rate of success. As stated in most studies, there are three overall exclusion key factors.
- Firstly, if the BPH symptoms are caused by the obstruction of the median lobes, men should have a cystoscopy prior to the surgery in order to exactly determine the volume of the prostate. In this case, the UroLift procedure may be contraindicated.
- Secondly, the UroLift procedure is not recommended for men with large prostate volume (more than 100 ml). If the prostate volume is between 20 and 70 ml the patient can be a candidate for the UroLift procedure.
- Finally, patients with a history of urinary retention or with an active urinary tract infection are not suitable to undergo the UroLift system treatment.
What is the success rate of Urolift?
The long term results show sustained benefits of the UroLift system treatment and the five years data available proves the efficiency of this innovative solution. The positive outcomes are rapid and durable, including an IPSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) improvement. The studies have also demonstrated that the urinary flow rate significantly improved. The UroLift procedure is also having a low retreatment rate, of approximately 13,6% in a five years period.
What is more, the UroLift system proved to be the only BPH procedure that preserves the sexual function with 100% rate of success. In a global survey that was conducted over 13,000 men, aged between 40-80, from 29 countries, almost 50% of them considered sex as being very or even extremely important.
How long do the benefits of the UroLift system last?
There are a number of published studies on this topic which show that men who underwent the Urolift procedure continue to benefit from it up to 5 years or even longer. The benefits can be more durable if the UroLift treatment is combined with medication, such as Flomax.
Candidates who do not meet all the selection criteria may need further alternative surgeries in 2-4 years after the UroLift treatment. The patients should be counselled and carefully selected before undergoing this procedure.
It is worth considering that the ideal candidates for the UroLift system treatment experience excellent relief of their BPH symptoms for 5 years or longer.
The UroLift system demonstrated its efficiency as a revolutionary treatment for BPH symptoms. It is the only safe and durable BPH procedure that can improve life’s quality and preserve sexual function.
Set an appointment today to find out if the UroLift system is right for you!
